SOLEDAD — A jury convicted a state prison inmate serving a life sentence of stabbing his cellmate about 40 times in 2022 at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced Oct. 6.
Ray Gutierrez Jr. was found guilty of assault by a life prisoner and personally inflicting great bodily injury, District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni said.
On May 6, 2022, Gutierrez stabbed his cellmate in the face, head and neck with a prison weapon, according to the District Attorney’s Office. The victim survived after receiving significant medical intervention at Natividad Medical Center.
Gutierrez is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 30. He faces 27 years to life in prison, plus an additional 13 years to be served consecutively to his current sentence of 50 years to life.
The case was investigated by the Investigative Services Unit at Salinas Valley State Prison and District Attorney’s Office investigators assigned to the Prison Prosecution Unit.
