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Jury Convicts Salinas Valley State Prison Inmate of Murder and Attempted Murder on Other Inmates, and Attempted Murder of a Correctional Officer

  SALINAS, California -- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Monday, November 18 that 42-year-old Michael Ellison of Riverside, CA, was convicted by a jury of First-Degree Murder, First- Degree Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer, and First-Degree Attempted Murder. Ellison was also convicted of 3 counts of Assault by a Life Prisoner. The Honorable Judge Stephanie Hulsey presided over the trial. On April 8, 2018, Ellison stabbed fellow prisoner Jason Lewis to death in the prison yard at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad. On July 26, 2019, Ellison, while housed in administrative segregation at Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, stabbed a Correctional Officer multiple times. On August 12, 2023, Ellison stabbed his cellmate at Salinas Valley State Prison. The jury also found true allegations that Ellison has a prior conviction for Murder out of Riverside County in 2004, Assault by a Prisoner with a Deadly Weapon from Kings County in 2005, and Ass
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Shooting Incident Involving Police on Vosti Avenue in Soledad is Under Investigation

  SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Friday, November 15 that a man is recovering in the hospital following a Soledad police-involved shooting that occurred late Thursday night, November 14, 2024, near the 1700 block of Vosti Avenue in Soledad. The incident is currently under investigation by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. At approximately 11:38 PM, Soledad Police Dispatch received a 911 call reporting that a man was hiding and had been threatened by people who were allegedly shooting at him. This initial report indicated he was near the 1700 block of Vosti Avenue in Soledad. The Dispatchers updated the call to a reported shooting into an occupied dwelling. Just prior to police arrival, the reported shooting was determined to be unfounded. At 11:42 PM, Soledad Police Dispatch contacted a resident on the 1700 Block of Vosti. The situation remained unclear and was being investigated with a response by three officers f
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Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Announces Offer of Employment Made to Timothy Lanquist to Become the Next Corrections Operations Bureau Chief Deputy Sheriff

  Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto announced on Thursday, November 14 that after a national recruitment process utilizing a firm retained through the Monterey County Human Resources Department, she has extended an offer of employment to Timothy Lanquist to become the next Corrections Operations Bureau Chief Deputy Sheriff. An official start date is yet to be determined, pending the standard hiring process. For more than 29 years, Chief Deputy Timothy Lanquist has dedicated himself to public service. He served 6 years with the United States Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant, serving in various management and leadership roles including as Naval Academy Sports Information Officer, Recruit Training Division Officer, Manpower Officer, and Assistant Director of Military Training at the Navy’s only boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois. Lanquist started his law enforcement career with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in 2001, graduating from the Ventura County Criminal Justice Training
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County of Monterey Probation Chief to Retire After More Than 3 Decades of Public Service

  The County of Monterey congratulates Probation Chief Todd Keating on his retirement after 33 years of county service. Keating will be honored with a special Board of Supervisors resolution on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. His final day of county service will be on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Chief Keating began his career with the County of Monterey’s Probation Department in 1991 as a Deputy Probation Officer, rising through the ranks to executive leadership as Assistant Probation Chief in 2014 and then to Chief Probation Officer in 2019. Additionally, he served as the Chair of the Children’s Council, the Child Abuse Prevention Council, the Community Restorative Justice Commission, the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, and the Community Corrections Partnership. Among his many achievements, Chief Keating oversaw the opening of the new Juvenile Hall in 2020 and provided steadfast support and guidance both for staff and clients served by Probation during the worldwide pandemic. He a
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Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Arrest 2 Suspects in Shooting that Happened on November 3 that Left 2 Victims Injured at a Catholic Pastoral Center in Chualar

Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have arrested 25-year-old Jesus Julian Rios of Salinas and 26-year-old Regino Mendoza Arce of Salinas for their involvement in a shooting that left 2 victims injured while attending a gathering at the St. Theodore’s Catholic Pastoral Center in Chualar. At about 1:07 AM, on Sunday November 3, 2024, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls from the area of Grant Street and Scott Street in Chualar. Reporting parties were stating that two persons had been shot and assistance was needed. Upon arrival, Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputies located 2 victims who had sustained gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to hospitals for treatment of their injuries and were expected to survive.  Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto stated, “Our detectives immediately took action to identify and find the persons responsible for this tragic incident. It is my hope that our Chualar community can rest easy knowing these individuals are of
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Dr. Joey Adame is named the New Superintendent for the Gonzales Unified School District

  The Gonzales Unified School District Board of Trustees is excited to welcome Dr. Joey Adame as the new Superintendent. Countless hours were spent by community members, staff and the Board in an effort to select the most qualified candidate. The Board wants to thank everyone involved for their contributions to the selection process. Dr. Adame has served the education community for over 25 years as a school counselor, assistant principal, elementary, middle, and high school principal, director, and most recently as the Superintendent of the Los Molinos Unified School District where he served with commitment and dedication for the last 8 years. He is well known for improving student academic achievement through the implementation of sustainable system changes that benefit students, parents, staff, and the community at large. Dr. Adame recognizes the value of social and emotional programs for students and believes every kid needs a champion. His passion and commitment to student equity a
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“State Awards $63 Million for Rail Improvements Between Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties”

  MONTEREY COUNTY – The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) announced that the California Transportation State Transportation Agency awarded $63 million from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) to provide rail improvements along the Coast Line between Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties.   The funding was awarded to the Facilitating and Accelerating Service Transformations on the Central Coast Program (FAST Central Coast Program), a collaborative effort of the Coast Rail Coordinating Council involving the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, and the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor (LOSSAN Rail Corridor) Agency.   The grant award provides funding for several coordinated projects along the coast rail line between Monterey County and Santa Barbara County to increase ridership, reliability, and train frequency. The coordinated projects a
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