SOLEDAD — Salinas Valley State Prison inmates Roberto Carlos Cortez and Juan Jose Bueno were each convicted by a jury of first-degree murder and possession of a weapon, announced Monterey County District Attorney’s Office on Jan. 31. Bueno was also convicted of assault by a life prisoner.
Bueno admitted he had previously been convicted of four “strikes” under California’s Three Strikes Law, including a prior conviction for murder. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, without the possibility of parole.
Cortez admitted he had previously been convicted of four “strikes” under California’s Three Strikes Law. He faces a maximum sentence of 75 years to life in prison.
On March 21, 2023, Cortez and Bueno participated in a two-on-one stabbing of inmate Steven Lovely during recreational time in the day room. They used weapons to stab Lovely close to 50 times until he was unresponsive. Despite medical intervention, Lovely died in the hospital five days later. The entire attack was captured on video.
