Jury Convicts Salinas Valley State Prison Inmate of Murder and Attempted Murder on Other Inmates, and Attempted Murder of a Correctional Officer

SALINAS, California -- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Monday, November 18

that 42-year-old Michael Ellison of Riverside, CA, was convicted by a jury of First-Degree Murder, First-

Degree Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer, and First-Degree Attempted Murder. Ellison was also

convicted of 3 counts of Assault by a Life Prisoner. The Honorable Judge Stephanie Hulsey

presided over the trial.

On April 8, 2018, Ellison stabbed fellow prisoner Jason Lewis to death in the prison yard at Salinas Valley

State Prison in Soledad. On July 26, 2019, Ellison, while housed in administrative segregation at Correctional

Training Facility in Soledad, stabbed a Correctional Officer multiple times. On August 12, 2023,

Ellison stabbed his cellmate at Salinas Valley State Prison.

The jury also found true allegations that Ellison has a prior conviction for Murder out of Riverside

County in 2004, Assault by a Prisoner with a Deadly Weapon from Kings County in 2005, and Assault

with a Deadly Weapon causing Great Bodily Injury from Kern County in 2017.

Ellison faces a maximum sentence of Life Without Parole plus an additional 87 years-life in prison.

This case was investigated by the Investigative Services Unit of Salinas Valley State Prison, the

Investigative Services Unit of the Correctional Training Facility as well as District Attorney

Investigator Erik Morris and retired District Attorney Investigator Jackie Meroney.

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Fatal 3 Vehicle Accident Involving Wrong Way Driver on Highway 101 Outside of King City on January 10

A fatal multi-vehicle collision happened on Saturday night, January 10 at 9:51 p.m. on northbound Highway 101 outside of King City. According to the King City CHP a 2016 Toyota Tacoma driven by 65-year-old Paul Lee Cooper of Otis, Oregon was heading the wrong way going southbound in the northbound lanes south of Jolon Road, while a 2006 Toyota Corolla driven by 33-year-old Dinora Maribel Gomez of Salinas was heading northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road in the #1 lane and a Honda Accord driven by 36-year-old Ignacio Sangerman of King City was also traveling northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road but was in the #2 lane. Due to Cooper's level of impairment his vehicle went the wrong way on Highway 101 going directly into the path of Gomez' vehicle causing the rear of her car to crash with the front of the vehicle driven by Sangerman. Cooper was arrested, sustaining major injuries and was transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas where as of January 12 is...

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 ...

King City City Council Announces Selection of José Arreola as New City Manager

January 7, 2025-Following an extensive recruitment process, José Arreola has been selected by the King City City Council to be its next City Manager. Arreola will replace Steve Adams, who is retiring after serving in the position for the past 10 years. Arreola was selected from 31 applicants and 8 finalists for the position. The King City City Council will formally consider the proposed city manager contract at its meeting on Tuesday night, January 13. Arreola's first day on the job is scheduled to be February 23. José Arreola has a distinguished career of serving the community with a particular commitment to youth. He has worked for the City of Salinas for 12 years as their Community Safety Program Manager, Community Safety Administrator and Assistant to the City Manager. Among other responsibilities, Arreola has led several programs to eliminate gang violence which aligns well with the City of King’s efforts and priorities. Prior to that, Arreola worked as an Educa...

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