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Jury Convicts Salinas Valley State Prisoner of Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Correctional Officer

  SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on August 13 that on August 11, 2026 that 57-year-old Curtis Hemphill, was convicted by a jury of assault with a deadly weapon by a state prisoner serving a life sentence. Judge Stephanie E. Hulsey presided over the trial. On July 4, 2023, Hemphill, during afternoon recall from the recreational yard at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, stabbed an on duty Correctional Officer with a 6-inch dagger style inmate manufactured weapon. Without warning, Hemphill lunged at the correctional officer and struck him in the chest, near his right arm pit. The officer suffered severe redness and bruising; fortunately, he was wearing a California Department of Rehabilitations and Correction’s issued protective vest. The jury also found true Hemphill has prior convictions for attempted murder, kidnapping, mayhem and assault with a firearm in Riverside County in 1998 and, voluntary manslaughter in Monterey C...
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Soledad Man Arrested on August 11 Following Investigation Into Inappropriate Conduct Involving a Juvenile

  Soledad, CA – On Sunday, July 19, 2026, the Soledad Police Department was notified of an incident involving an 8-year-old female victim who reported that an adult male had engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct in her presence. Through investigation and multiple follow-ups, officers positively identified the suspect as 52-year-old Jeronimo Macias Rodriguez of Soledad. During the investigation, officers also learned that Rodriguez may have had access to or contact with other female juveniles. On Tuesday night, August 11, 2026, at approximately 6:49 p.m., officers with the Soledad Police Department located and arrested Rodriguez near his residence in the 500 block of Front Street. Rodriguez was subsequently booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges related to the investigation. Due to concerns that Rodriguez may have had contact with other juveniles, the Soledad Police Department is asking for the community’s assistance. The Soledad Police Department encourages anyone who ma...
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Public Review Period for the November 3, 2026 General Election in Monterey County

Salinas, CA – Monterey County Elections announces the 10-calendar day public review period for candidate statements and local measures.   The purpose of the public review period is to give voters an opportunity to review and/or challenge the language of a proposed ballot measure or candidate statement before it is published in the Voter Information Guide. During each 10-day public review period, any voter of the jurisdiction in which the election is being held may seek a judicial writ of mandate or injunction requiring any or all materials to be amended or deleted. The request for a writ of mandate or injunction against a statement or measure text in which Monterey County is the sole or lead county of the district shall be filed no later than the end of the review period with the Superior Court of the County of Monterey.   Multiple review periods will occur in relation to the Election. Each period opens immediately after the filing deadline for each type of electio...
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Notice of Extended Filing Period for Elective Office in Monterey County

SALINAS, CA – The regular candidate filing period for the November 3, 2026, General Election has closed. The filing period for the following offices, in which an eligible incumbent did not file, is extended until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.   DISTRICT NAME SEAT Monterey County Board of Education Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 1 Monterey County Board of Education Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 7 Hartnell Community College District Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 5 Hartnell Community College District Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 6 Hartnell Community College District Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 7 Aromas-San Juan Unified School District Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 3 Gonzales Unified School District Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 2 Gonzales Unified School District Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 4 Monterey Peninsula Unified School District ...
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Stolen Property Recovered, Soledad man Arrested on August 10

  Soledad, CA – On August 10, 2026, at approximately 3:42 p.m., officers with the Soledad Police Department were investigating a possible domestic violence incident when they located property believed to be connected to a recent series of thefts from unlocked vehicles. Further investigation revealed that 29-year-old Luis Jonathan Damian Campos of Soledad, was in possession of the stolen property. Officers also confirmed that Campos had an outstanding felony no-bail warrant for his arrest. Prior to officers’ arrival, Campos fled the area and was believed to be at a nearby residence. With assistance from the Greenfield Police Department, officers contacted the homeowner of the residence and received permission to check the backyard to determine whether Campos was hiding on the property. A Greenfield Police Department drone located Campos as he fled from the backyard and jumped a fence into a neighboring property. With assistance from the Greenfield Police Department, Soledad Police o...
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Body of Missing Person Located at Lake San Antonio on August 10

  On August 9, 2026, at approximately 3:10 PM, Monterey County Park Rangers received a report of a missing person at Lake San Antonio South Shore near Beach Road. A family member reported that an adult relative had not been seen for approximately 20 minutes and was last observed in the water near the shoreline. Family members also reported that the missing person was an inexperienced swimmer. Park Rangers immediately began searching the shoreline and surrounding area. Based on the circumstances and information provided by witnesses, it was believed the missing person may have gone underwater and not resurfaced. Park Rangers requested assistance from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, including the Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, to conduct an underwater search. The Dive Team responded and searched the area where the person was last seen, as well as the surrounding water, but was unable to locate the missing person before search operations were suspended for the day. On August 10, 20...
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Reckless Driver Arrested After Fleeing Traffic Stop and Ramming CTF Secured Gate in Soledad on August 9

  Soledad, CA – On Sunday night, August 9, 2026, at approximately 10:30 p.m., officers with the Soledad Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle for reckless driving. The driver failed to yield and fled from officers. A short time later, officers were dispatched to the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) in Soledad, where CTF staff had located the vehicle on facility grounds. Staff attempted to communicate with the driver, who was uncooperative and refused to provide identification or other information. Officers with the Soledad Police Department arrived at CTF with assistance from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and Salinas Police Department. The driver refused to exit the vehicle and subsequently rammed a secured CTF gate, causing damage. Officers utilized less-lethal options to safely remove the driver from the vehicle and take him into custody. The driver was later identified as 25-year-old Sergio Ramirez Greenfield was medically assessed and cle...
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