Jury Convicts Salinas Valley State Prisoner of Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Correctional Officer

 

SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on August 13 that

on August 11, 2026 that 57-year-old Curtis Hemphill, was convicted by a jury of assault with a deadly weapon

by a state prisoner serving a life sentence. Judge Stephanie E. Hulsey presided over the trial.

On July 4, 2023, Hemphill, during afternoon recall from the recreational yard at Salinas Valley State

Prison in Soledad, stabbed an on duty Correctional Officer with a 6-inch dagger style inmate

manufactured weapon. Without warning, Hemphill lunged at the correctional officer and struck him in

the chest, near his right arm pit. The officer suffered severe redness and bruising; fortunately, he was

wearing a California Department of Rehabilitations and Correction’s issued protective vest.

The jury also found true Hemphill has prior convictions for attempted murder, kidnapping, mayhem and

assault with a firearm in Riverside County in 1998 and, voluntary manslaughter in Monterey County in

2012 which qualify as “strike” offenses within the meaning of California’s Three Strikes Law.

Hemphill faces 27 years to life plus an additional ten years in prison to be served consecutive to his

current 60 year to life sentence.

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

Attorney Investigator Dominique Hohmann.