Salinas Valley State Prison Inmates Convicted of Attempted Willful, Deliberate and Premeditated Murder, Assault by Life Prisoners With Malice Aforethought and Possession of Weapons by a Prisoner

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Friday, September 24 that on Thursday, September 23 after a two week jury trial, Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) inmates 40-year-old Brian Curtis Pacheco and 42-year-old Jason D. Partee were found guilty of attempted willful, deliberate and premeditated murder, assault by prisoners serving life with malice aforethought, and possession of weapons by state prisoners with allegations they personally used deadly weapons. On September 14, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., correctional officers on SVSP’s Facility C 1 Yard observed inmates Pacheco and Partee striking inmate Manual Gonzalez, who was lying defenseless on his back, with inmate manufactured stabbing weapons. Officers testified that as they moved to help Gonzalez, inmate Partee turned and stabbed Gonzalez several more times in the neck before he surrendered with inmate Pacheco. The jury heard evidence that officers found inmate Gonzalez non-responsive, laying in a pool of blood, with over 25 stab wounds, including punctures to his chest and stomach and gashes to his neck and throat. Two inmate manufactured stabbing weapons were recovered at the scene. Officers further testified to finding a weapon sheath next to inmate Pacheco and a hidden pocket, consistent with a concealed weapon, on inmate Partee’s clothing. In a separate court trial, the Honorable Sam Lavorato, Jr., who also presided over the jury trial, found true that inmate Pacheco suffered seven prior strike convictions and inmate Partee suffered eight prior strikes. The Honorable Sam Lavorato, Jr. will pronounce sentencing on January 28, 2022. Under California’s “Three Strikes” law, each defendant faces a minimum sentence of an additional consecutive 27 years to life in prison, with a maximum of 37 years to life for inmate Pacheco and 45 years to life for inmate Partee. This case was investigated by the Salinas Valley State Prison Investigative Services Unit along with Monterey County District Attorney Investigator Erik Morris.