SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Friday, May 21 the appointment of Marisol Mendez to the position of Assisant District Attorney.
Mendez was born and raised in the Salinas Valley, by way of Soledad and Salinas as she graduated from Salinas High School and went on to Hartnell College where she transferred to the University of California Santa Barbara, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. Mendez attended McGeorge School of Law with the intent on practicing Constitutional Law. Her career trajectory shifted after spending a summer as an intern with the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office where she recognized the important work prosecutors do for the community
In 2005, Mendez began her career as a prosecutor with the Kern County District Attorney’s Office. After 3 years, she returned home to Monterey County to serve her community. From 2008-2018, she worked as a deputy district attorney, and in May 2018, she was promoted to managing deputy district attorney.
Mendez has held a variety of prosecutorial assignments. She serves as Co-Chair of the Community Restorative Justice Commission, she currently supervises the Prisons Prosecution Unit, Juvenile Justice Unit, Civil Commitments Unit, Board of Parole Hearings Unit, the Office of Traffic Safety DUI Vertical Prosecution Unit, the MADCAT Prosecution Unit, the Welfare Fraud Unit and the California Department of Insurance grant funded units which includes the Auto Insurance Fraud Unit, Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Unit and the Disability and Healthcare Insurance Fraud Unit. Mendez also manages the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Intern Program. In addition to her prosecutorial range she brings to the position, Mendez has a passion to serve her community. “I love Monterey County. Having been born and raised here I feel indebted to this community for all the great teachers, friends and neighbors that have enriched my life. I want to do all that I can to make this community safe and ensure that the criminal justice system is equitably applied for all those who become involved in it.”
District Attorney Pacioni stated that “Ms. Mendez is an effective and multitalented leader. Her lifelong commitment to the welfare of Monterey County residents, and dedication to seeking justice makes her perfect for our executive leadership team.”
Mendez will begin her new position on May 22 and will be joining Assistant District Attorneys Doug Matheson and Christopher Knight.
Monterey County DA Releases Preliminary Information Concerning an Officer Involved Shooting Incident that Occurred Outside of Soledad on December 16
SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni on December 19 released preliminary information concerning the officer involved shooting (OIS) which occurred at about 1:20 a.m. outside the city of Soledad on December 16, 2025. Just before 1:00 a.m., Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Pina, who has been a peace officer for 10 years all with MCSO, and Deputy Blain Councilman, each in separate patrol cars, were dispatched to 32097 McCoy Road. A resident at the farm labor camp reported a suspicious individual with a handgun whose white Honda 4 door sedan was parked in space 18 at the complex. Before parking there, the suspect drove around and around, stopped in front of the reporting party’s (RP’s) truck, and got out. The RP could hear music. Deputy Pina drove the lead patrol car and arrived just after 1:20 a.m. His dashcam video, which does not record sound but which he installed on his own and at his own expense, depicts the following: He drove down ...
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