By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has released the name of the individual who died in custody on Sept. 4 at the Ellis County Jail.
Brandon Gates, 32, of Hays was found unresponsive in the jail on Sept. 4, according to the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office.
An autopsy has been performed, and his injuries were believed to be self-inflicted, said Melissa Underwood, KBI communications director.
A final autopsy report is pending, which typically takes six to 12 weeks to complete. No foul play is suspected, Underwood said.
Gates was in the jail, arrested on requested charges of a sex offense involving a 12-year-old Hays girl, Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said.
The alleged offense was reported to a school resource officer on Aug. 31, although the alleged offense did not reportedly occur at the school or involve school staff.
Gates was known to the victim, however.
The Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center assisted in the investigation.
Gates was arrested on Sept. 2 on a requested charge of sexual assault of a child.
Because the child was 13 or younger, Gates could have faced a sentence of up to 25 years to life under Jessica’s Law, Scheibler said.