Salinas Valley State Prisoner Sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole for the Murder of Fellow Inmate

SALINAS, California -- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on April 30

that Salinas Valley State Prison Inmate 30-year-old Juan Jose Bueno was sentenced to serve a term of Life

Without the Possibility of Parole after being convicted by a jury of First-Degree Murder. Bueno was

also convicted of Assault by a Life Prisoner Causing Death and Possession of a Weapon. The

Honorable Stephanie Hulsey presided over the trial.

Bueno admitted he had previously been convicted of four “strikes” under California’s Three Strikes

Law, including a prior conviction for murder. At the time of the murder, Bueno was already serving

a life sentence for his prior murder conviction.

On March 21, 2023, Bueno and his co-defendant, Roberto Carlos Cortez, participated in a two on one

stabbing of inmate Steven Lovely during recreational time in the day room at Salinas Valley State

Prison. They used inmate-manufactured weapons to stab Lovely close to 50 times until he was

unresponsive. Despite medical intervention, Lovely died in the hospital five days later. The entire

attack was captured on video.

Bueno’s co-defendant, Roberto Carlos Cortez, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18, 2025.

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

as Monterey County District Attorney Investigator Erik Morris.

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