SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced that 31-year-old Jose Jesse Marquez of Gonzales was found guilty of the following charges: felony animal abuse with an
allegation that the crime involved a deadly or dangerous weapon (four counts), felony resisting a police
officer, and felony burglary. The Honorable Jennifer O’Keefe further found true enhancements for a prior
strike conviction and numerous factors in aggravation. These convictions constitute four strike offenses
under California’s three strikes law, which directs that the defendant will face life behind bars if he commits
another strike. The defendant faces approximately 20 years and 4 months in prison when he is
sentenced on June 4, 2024.
At approximately 2:29 a.m. on February 18, 2023, the defendant rode his bicycle to the Gonzales High
School and entered the property to take a tool. He approached the barn area and stabbed multiple animals
belonging to the students. Two lambs died, one lamb survived, and one pig survived. He held down each
animal, who had been raised since birth by children at Gonzales High, repeatedly stabbed them eight to ten
times in the head and neck with such force their skulls were broken in multiple places. When contacted by
law enforcement, the defendant refused to comply with officers’ orders and threatened to commit violence
towards an officer at booking.
This case was prosecuted by the Monterey County District Attorney’s vertical prosecution unit for crimes
against animals. If you suspect animal abuse or neglect in your neighborhood, please contact the District
Attorney’s Office at 831-755-5070 or your local police department.
This case was investigated by Officers from the Gonzales Police Department, specifically Officer Miguel
Perez, Corporal Nathan Cordoba, and Sergeant Herbert Bowen. District Attorney Investigator Rebecca Ayala
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