Monterey County Jury Convicts Soledad Man of Felony Resisting an Officer and Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

 

SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on September 18  that a jury found 34-year-old David Fernando Hernandez of Soledad, guilty of felony resisting

an officer with force or violence, misdemeanor driving under the influence of a drug, misdemeanor

possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and misdemeanor

battery against a peace officer. Hernandez admitted that he has suffered a prior “strike” conviction within

the meaning of California’s Three Strikes Law.

On March 22, 2025, at approximately 6:45 p.m., Hernandez was parked on a US-101 offramp near

Camphora and Gloria Road in Soledad. Hernandez was parked the wrong way, facing oncoming traffic.

Officer Jonathan Delgadillo with California Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on Hernandez.

Officer Delgadillo noticed that Hernandez was sweating profusely and not making much sense when he

spoke to Officer Delgadillo. Officer Delgadillo suspected that Hernandez was under the influence of a

stimulant and conducted a driving under the influence investigation. Hernandez did not perform the field

sobriety tests as explained or demonstrated. Officer Delgadillo formed the opinion that Hernandez was

under the influence of a controlled substance and placed him under arrest. Officer Delgadillo searched

Hernandez and his vehicle after arresting him. Officer Delgadillo found nearly one gram of

methamphetamine in Hernandez’s front right pocket and a methamphetamine pipe in Hernandez’s vehicle.

Officer Delgadillo transported Hernandez to Natividad Medical Center to obtain a blood draw. On the

way to Natividad Medical Center, Hernandez said that he is a Norteno gang member and threatened to

“green light” the officer. When they arrived at the hospital, Hernandez refused to get out of the patrol

vehicle or cooperate during the blood draw. Three California Highway Patrol officers had to hold

Hernandez down onto a chair to allow a nurse to draw his blood. Hernandez continued to use force and

violence to resist Officer Delgadillo. He also spat on the officer. In June of 2025, testing from the

California Department of Justice, Bureau of Forensic Services confirmed that Hernandez had

methamphetamine in his bloodstream at the time that he drove his vehicle.

Hernandez will be sentenced by Judge Jennifer O’Keefe on October 28, 2025. Because of his prior strike

conviction for felony assault with a deadly weapon in 2023, for which he served four years in prison,

Hernandez faces a maximum sentence of 6 years in prison on this case.