Jury Convicts Inmate at CTF in Soledad for Possession of Contraband in Prison

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced

that on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, a jury convicted Ronnie Dean Jones of possession of contraband

while in prison.

In August of 2018, Jones, an inmate at the Correctional Training Facility located in the City of

Soledad, was involved in an incident during a routine cell search. Jones was instructed to exit

the cell and place his hands on the wall. While Jones initially complied with the officers'

instructions, he unexpectedly removed his hands from the wall and reached toward his waistband.

During this action, a bindle containing a black, tar-like substance fell to the ground. The substance

was collected by officers and sent to the Department of Justice for testing which confirmed that the

substance was heroin.

The Honorable Stephanie Hulsey presided over the trial.

Ronnie Dean Jones admitted to having been convicted of multiple strike offenses involving sexual

crimes against minors for which he is serving a sentence of 30 years to life.

This case was investigated by Correctional Training Facility as well as Monterey County District

Attorney Investigator Erik Morris.