Ione – Mule Creek State Prison inmate David Noles, 73, who was serving a 34-year sentence for rape with foreign object and sexual battery, was pronounced dead on August 30, after he was discovered unresponsive in his cell. Michelle Hamilton, PR officer for the prison, reported the incident Thursday in a news release. Hamilton said staff immediately began lifesaving efforts, and Noles was transported to Mule Creek State Prison’s Triage Treatment Area where he was subsequently pronounced dead. An autopsy performed on Wednesday by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death was strangulation. Prison officials and the Amador County District Attorney’s Office are investigating Noles’ death. Noles was convicted in 1993 in Sonoma County. The facility where Noles was housed at Mule Creek is a Level-4 Maximum Security Facility with approximately 1,200 inmates. Noles’ assigned cellmate has been placed in higher custody pending the investigation, per prison protocol. Story from press release. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.