Salinas Valley State Prisoner in Soledad Sentenced to Life in Prison for Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer and Assaulting Another Peace Officer

SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on February 6 that

on February 4, 2026, the Honorable Stephanie Hulsey sentenced 33-year-old Tyrell Ainsworth to 70 years to

life in prison plus an additional term of 5 years, both consecutive to the life sentence he is currently

serving with the California Department of Corrections (CDCR). On July 17, 2020, CDCR inmate

Ainsworth, while serving a life sentence at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, requested medical

attention as a ruse to be taken from his cell. While a Correctional Officer escorted the inmate, Ainsworth

pulled a concealed homemade tomahawk style blade and violently attacked Officer Grey. Ainsworth

inflicted slash wounds on the Officer’s neck in the jugular area. A fellow officer came to the aid of the

victim and Ainsworth assaulted him as well. The Correctional Officers survived the attack.

Ainsworth’s jury trial took place in May of 2025. The jury found him guilty of willful, deliberate, and

premeditated attempted murder of a Peace Officer, and assault on a second peace officer, and custodial

possession of a weapon. The Honorable Judge Stephanie E. Hulsey also presided over the trial.

The jury also found true that Ainsworth has prior convictions for murder in Los Angeles County in

2012, and robbery in Los Angeles County in 2009, both of which qualify as “strike” offenses within the

meaning of California’s Three Strikes Law.

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

Attorney Investigator Erik Morris.

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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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