Jury Convicts Salinas Valley State Prisoner of First-Degree Murder

SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on April 27 that

on April 23, 2026 33-year-old Miguel Angel Espino was convicted by a jury of willful, deliberate, and

premeditated murder of a fellow inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad. The Honorable Judge Stephanie

E. Hulsey presided over the trial.

On August 19, 2024, Espino stabbed a wheelchair bound inmate 42 times on a recreational yard

at Salinas Valley State Prison using an inmate-manufactured weapon. Prison medical staff attempted life

savings measures, but the inmate succumbed to his injuries, which caused extensive hemorrhaging, and

was pronounced dead on site.

The jury also found true allegations that the crime involved a high degree of cruelty, viciousness and

callousness.

The Court found true Espino has 3 prior convictions for attempted murder, mayhem, and arson from

Riverside County in 2024, which qualify as “strike” offenses within the meaning of California’s Three

Strikes Law.

Espino faces 75 years to life in prison to be served consecutive to his current 7 years to life sentence.

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

Attorney Investigator Dominique Hohmann.

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