A former inmate at the James Allred Unit in Wichita County, Texas, has been sentenced to 25 additional years in prison after pleading guilty to the 2019 strangulation death of a fellow inmate.
The sentencing marks the end of a years-long case involving violence behind prison walls.
Inmate William Wallace Sentenced for Inmate Death
William Wallace entered a guilty plea on April 25, 2025, in the 89th District Court with Judge Jeff McKnight presiding. He admitted to his role in the death of inmate Delandro Hamilton, who died on September 28, 2019, while serving time at the James Allred Unit.
Wallace’s 25-year sentence will be served in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility.
Past Criminal History Enhanced Sentence
Wallace also pleaded “true” to two prior offenses listed in an enhancement paragraph, which impacted the length of his sentence:
- Burglary of a building — Milam County, 1995
- Burglary of a vehicle — Burleson County, 2005
These past convictions allowed the court to enhance the punishment range, leading to a longer sentence under Texas law.
Details of the 2019 Death
According to the Texas Attorney General’s Office, 31-year-old Delandro Hamilton was found unresponsive in his bunk by correctional officers. They tried life-saving measures, but Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene.
A custodial death report later confirmed that Hamilton’s death was a homicide. The indictment stated that Wallace caused his death by strangling and/or suffocating him.
Wallace was indicted for murder by a Wichita County grand jury in January 2024, nearly five years after the incident occurred.