SOLEDAD — A Monterey County judge sentenced Tyrone Owens, 41, an inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, to a total term of 25-years-to-life in prison for a sexual assault that occurred on prison grounds.
Owens was sentenced as a third “strike” offender pursuant to the California Three Strikes Law, announced Monterey County District Attorney’s Office on March 7.
On March 23, 2023, Owens was walking in the Facility D yard at the Salinas Valley State Prison when he approached a licensed vocational nurse, Jane Doe, asking for “help.” Doe proceeded to instruct him on how to get help.
“Owens then told her he needed ‘sexual help,’ ran after her, grabbed her, and tried to put his hand down her pants,” according to the DA’s Office.
Doe eventually broke free from Owens’ grasp, and Correctional officers arrived on scene to assist. The entire incident was recorded on surveillance video.
At the time of the incident, Owens was serving a 17-year prison sentence for similar conduct. The life sentence in this case won’t begin until he has served his previous term, which began in 2019.
