Jury Convicts Inmate in Soledad Prison Officer Stabbing

Key Takeaways

• Curtis Hemphill, 57, was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon by a state prisoner for the July 4, 2023 attack at Salinas Valley State Prison.
• Hemphill used a 6-inch, dagger-style homemade weapon and lunged at a correctional officer during recreation yard recall.
• The officer's CDCR-issued protective vest prevented a more serious injury; he suffered severe redness and bruising.
• The jury found prior strike convictions, including attempted murder, kidnapping, mayhem, assault with a firearm and voluntary manslaughter.
• Hemphill faces 27 years to life plus 10 consecutive years, on top of his current 60-years-to-life sentence.

Conviction After 2023 Prison Yard Attack

The Monterey County District Attorney's Office announced that a jury convicted Curtis Hemphill on Tuesday of assaulting a correctional officer with a homemade dagger at Salinas Valley State Prison. The attack occurred July 4, 2023, during an afternoon recall from the recreational yard in Soledad.

Prosecutors said Hemphill lunged without warning at an on-duty correctional officer, Joshua Parker, and stabbed him in the chest near his right armpit with a 6-inch, dagger-style weapon made by an inmate. Parker was wearing a protective vest issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which authorities credited with preventing a more serious injury. He suffered severe redness and bruising.

Defense Challenged Weapon Evidence

The Davis Vanguard, reporting from Monterey County Superior Court, noted that defense attorney Richard Rutledge challenged whether prosecutors proved the object was a deadly weapon and whether Hemphill acted with malice aforethought. Rutledge pointed out that the weapon was not tested and that no direct expression of malice was presented.

Deputy District Attorney Laura Batcha argued the handmade weapon was capable of causing harm, citing its thickness and the fact that Hemphill aimed at vital points. An investigative officer testified the weapon was made of melted plastic, shaped and likely sharpened on concrete floors. Body camera footage showed Hemphill rushing at Parker while Parker was inspecting incarcerated people returning from the yard.

"It is capable of causing harm," Batcha said of the weapon.

Discrepancy in Trial Coverage

One timing discrepancy appears across reports. The Davis Vanguard's Aug. 13 article said jury deliberations began Aug. 11 and were still ongoing. Bay City News, via SFGATE, reported the jury convicted Hemphill on Tuesday and that the DA's office released a statement Thursday. The conviction is confirmed by the Monterey County District Attorney's Office.

Local California Context

Salinas Valley State Prison is a high-security state prison in Soledad, Monterey County, on California's Central Coast. The trial took place in Monterey County Superior Court. The case highlights ongoing concerns about prison violence and the safety of correctional officers in California's prison system.

Background

Hemphill has a violent criminal history. The jury found prior strike convictions under California's Three Strikes Law, including attempted murder, kidnapping, mayhem and assault with a firearm in Riverside County in 1998, and voluntary manslaughter in Monterey County in 2012.

Conclusion

The conviction adds to Hemphill's life sentence. He now faces 27 years to life, plus 10 additional years to run consecutively to his current 60-years-to-life term. The outcome underscores the importance of protective gear and swift prosecution in prison assault cases.