JURY CONVICTS SALINAS VALLEY STATE PRISONER OF ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON ON A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER

Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced today that on August 11, 2026, Curtis Hemphill, age 57, 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.