2 Salinas Valley State Prisoners Found Guilty of 1st Degree Attempted Murder

 

Salinas, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on October 18 that

on Friday, October 4, 2024, a jury found 37-year-old Jorge Farias, a prisoner at Salinas Valley State Prison

(SVSP) and 43-year-old and Michael Bloom, a prisoner at SVSP guilty of 1st degree attempted

murder on an inmate. Farias was found to have suffered two prior strike convictions under

California’s Three Strikes Law in 2012 for attempted murder and voluntary manslaughter with a

firearm. Bloom was found to have suffered multiple prior strike convictions under California’s

Three Strikes Law in 2007 for two robberies and two assaults with a firearm. Judge Stephanie

Hulsey presided over the 5 day trial.

On December 10, 2018, during the Facility B breakfast at SVSP, Defendant Farias unexpectedly

exited his prison cell against SVSP policy and ran directly into a neighboring cell. He was closely

followed into the cell by Defendant Bloom. The defendants immediately began an attack on the

inmate who lived in the cell, punching, and stabbing him repeatedly. The victim inmate suffered 28

stab wounds to his torso, neck, head, and arms. He was rushed to Natividad Medical Center where

he was treated for life threatening wounds.

This case was investigated by California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officers and

members of the Investigative Services Unit at Salinas Valley State Prison, as well as Monterey

County District Attorney Investigator Erik Morris.

Farias and Bloom will be sentenced by Judge Stephanie Hulsey on a date to be determined. Both

defendants face up to life in state prison, and a fine.