SOLEDAD — A Monterey County jury has convicted Paul Chavez Ramirez, 61, an inmate serving a life sentence at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, of possessing a weapon.
In a bifurcated trial, the jury also found that Ramirez had previously been convicted of four “strike” offenses under California’s Three Strikes Law.
On the morning of Aug. 21, 2024, correctional officers at SVSP observed Ramirez in possession of a weapon. A subsequent search revealed that he had concealed an 18-inch piece of rebar beneath his clothing.
“One end of the rebar was sharpened, and the other was modified with a rope-based handle made of a white cord to provide a firm hold,” according to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office in a news release Dec. 18. “As configured, it could readily inflict great bodily injury or death.”
Correctional officers confiscated the weapon and prevented any further incident.
Ramirez is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 10. He faces an additional two years in state prison in addition to his life sentence.
