You probably remember the guy. In the 1997 cult classic Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, there was a hulking, silent henchman named Random Task. He was a parody of the James Bond villain Oddjob, known for throwing a deadly shoe instead of a hat. But the man behind the character, Joe Son (born Joseph Hyungmin Son), isn't just a "where are they now" footnote in Hollywood history. He is currently serving a life sentence in a California state prison for crimes so horrific they make Dr. Evil look like a saint.
Honestly, the story of this Austin Powers actor in prison is a lot darker than most people realize. It’s not just about a career gone wrong; it’s a decades-long saga of cold cases, DNA breakthroughs, and a second murder committed behind bars.
From the Octagon to the Big Screen
Before he was throwing shoes at Mike Myers, Joe Son was actually a pioneer in the early days of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). He fought in the UFC back when there were almost no rules. He’s famous in the fight world for one of the most brutal moments in sports history—at UFC 4, he lost a fight after taking multiple, unprotected groin strikes. It was hard to watch.
But Son used that weird notoriety to pivot into acting. Landing the role of Random Task was his big break. He was finally on the map. Yet, while he was filming scenes for a goofy comedy, he was hiding a secret from 1990 that would eventually bury him.
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The 1990 Cold Case That Caught Up With Him
The reason this Austin Powers actor in prison is there today dates back to Christmas Eve, 1990. A 19-year-old woman was walking her dog in Huntington Beach, California. Son and another man, Santiago Gaitan, abducted her at gunpoint. What followed was a nightmare: she was driven to a remote area, pistol-whipped, and repeatedly sexually assaulted.
They eventually let her go, but the case went cold for nearly 20 years.
How did they catch him? Basically, it was a total fluke. In 2008, Son was arrested for a minor felony vandalism charge—kicking in a car door during a dispute. Because of California’s laws, he had to submit a DNA sample. When that sample hit the state database, it triggered a massive "ping." It matched the DNA found on the victim from that 1990 Christmas Eve attack.
Why the Charge Was Torture, Not Rape
Here is the weird legal twist that many people miss. By the time the DNA matched in 2008, the statute of limitations on the sexual assault charges had actually expired. Technically, they couldn't charge him for the rape.
However, there is no statute of limitations on torture in California.
The Orange County District Attorney’s office focused on the sheer brutality of the attack to secure a conviction. In 2011, a jury found him guilty of one felony count of torture. The victim’s testimony was harrowing; she described how he counted the bullets in his gun while she pleaded for her life. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
The Murder Inside Wasco State Prison
If you think the story ends with a life sentence, it gets worse. Less than a month after Son arrived at Wasco State Prison to start his sentence, he became a suspect in a new crime.
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His cellmate, a 50-year-old man named Michael Graham, was found beaten to death. Graham was a sex offender who was serving a short two-year sentence. Authorities quickly identified Son as the primary suspect.
In 2017, the Austin Powers actor in prison was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for the death of his cellmate. This added another 27 years to his already existing life sentence. Currently, he is housed at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County.
Key Timeline of Joe Son’s Downfall
- 1990: The abduction and torture of a woman in Huntington Beach.
- 1994: Son loses his infamous UFC 4 match.
- 1997: Appears as Random Task in Austin Powers.
- 2008: Arrested for vandalism; DNA matches the 1990 cold case.
- 2011: Convicted of torture and sentenced to life.
- 2011 (October): Suspected of killing his cellmate, Michael Graham.
- 2017: Convicted of voluntary manslaughter; sentence increased.
Where He Is Now
As of 2026, Joe Son remains incarcerated. There have been various rumors over the years about his health or status, but the reality is he is simply another inmate in the California Department of Corrections system. He will likely never see the outside of a prison cell again.
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The case serves as a massive reminder of how forensic technology—specifically DNA databases—can reach back through time to catch people who thought they had gotten away with it. It’s a strange, grim contrast to the lighthearted movie he’s most famous for.
If you are looking into the history of Hollywood’s most notorious criminals, Son’s case stands out because of the "hidden" nature of his crimes during his peak fame. It’s a sobering look at the person behind the character.
Actionable Insights:
- Public Records: If you're curious about inmate status, most state DOC websites (like California's CDCR) offer a public "Inmate Locator" tool where you can see current housing locations.
- Cold Case Awareness: This case is often cited as a victory for the use of DNA in clearing decades-old backlogs.
- Support for Survivors: The victim in this case, "Jane Doe," became an advocate for changing statutes of limitations on sexual crimes.