Inmate Mario Rodriguez sentenced to life in double homicide and the assault of a deputy

SALINAS, Calif., (KION-TV) -- The Monterey County District Attorney's office confirmed Friday that Norteno criminal street gang member Mario Rodriguez, has been sentenced to life in prison for a double murder of a young couple on E. Bernal Drive in Salinas back in 2021, as well as the assault of officers while in custody.

The DA's office says that evidence showed Rodriguez with several other Norteno gang members in an area that officials believe is a rival Sureno criminal street gang territory when they "recklessly targeted and killed" the couple, who had no affiliation to the Sureno gang.

"Rodriguez personally shot and killed both victims," according to the DA's office. Then, the DA's office says that while in custody on March 17 this year, Rodriguez attacked several deputies while in jail.

"The evidence showed Rodriguez and several other Norteno gang members attacked deputies as they tried to enforce rules prohibiting the possession of tattoo equipment in the facility," said the DA's office Friday.

It was reported that other inmates punched and kicked deputies, although Rodriguez successfully seized one deputy's baton and struck him with it multiple times.

While in court, Rodriguez pled guilty on two counts of murder as well as personally admitting that he discharged the firearm that caused the death of the couple, according to the DA's office. They also said that Rodriguez did this "with the intent to benefit the Norteno criminal street gang."

According to the DA's office, Rodriguez also pled guilty on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.

Judge Rafael Vazquez of the Monterey County Superior Court sentenced Rodriguez to 50 years to life in state prison for these actions, according to the DA's office.

Five inmates make their first court appearance since allegedly attacking three Monterey County Sheriff's Deputies

SALINAS, Calif., (KION-TV)- UPDATE: March 19, 2024 at 10:35 a.m.- This past Sunday three deputies were attacked by 5 inmates. All five of the inmates appeared in a Salinas courtroom today – one of them facing more serious charges after the attack.

"One inmate was tattooing another inmate," said Berkeley Brannon who is the Chief Assistant District Attorney for the Monterey County District Attorney's Office. "And, you know, the deputies needed to get the tattooing instrument."

According to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, two deputies initially responded to the incident.

"The initial response was two deputies trying to contact one person and That is not uncommon," said Commander Andres Rosas with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. "There was no way for them to know that four additional incarcerated subjects were going to come after them."

The three deputies were hurt but one was severely injured after the suspect Mario Alexander Rodriguez snagged a baton and struck a deputy identified as "Deputy Macias" four times.

"Our officers are trained in defensive tactics and in this particular case, as we have disclosed, what are those tools available to our deputies was a baton," said Rosas. "But in this particular case, one of the incarcerated subjects was able to get that baton."

All five suspects were present in the courtroom. 19-year-old Mario Rodriguez, 27-year-old Joey Valdez, 20-year-old Adam Villareal, 27-year-old Justin Michael Solorio, and 26-year-old Jose Antonio Mejia.

Brannon tells me if the odds are in favor of this going to trial.

"They'll be appointed counsel to defend them on these charges," said Brannon. "And it'll be set over for a preliminary hearing, which is a hearing in front of a judge to see if the case should proceed to trial, see if there's enough evidence,"

Brannon says the baton was the most dangerous weapon the inmates could have possessed.

The next court day is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.

Four inmates could face assault on a peace officer.

All are facing drug-related charges after drugs were found in their cells.

Three Monterey County Sheriff's deputies attacked in the Monterey County Jail, five inmates charged with attempted murder

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- According to multiple sources, three Monterey County Sheriff's Deputies were attacked in the Monterey County Jail on Sunday night.

A source told KION that the three deputies were attacked in a gang housing unit within the Monterey County Jail.

Two of the deputies were hit with a baton and another deputy was sucker punched by an inmate. All three deputies went to the hospital and have since been released from the hospital according to multiple sources.

The Monterey County Sherriff's Office said that the incident took place around 6 p.m. when two deputies was advised of an inmate who was tattooing another inmate which is against jail rules.

Investigators said that two deputies got to the housing unit to make contact with one of the inmates when the inmate began to back up and pushed them away.

The Sheriff's Office said that four inmates surrounded the deputies and started hitting them with closed fists.

During the attack, one of the male inmates took a Deputy's baton and hit the deputy in the head and back.

The Sheriff's Office said that additional deputies responded to the housing unit and ordered the inmates to get on the ground.

Investigators said that one of the male inmates threw the baton which had been taken from the deputy which struck multiple deputies

Deputies were able to restore order and searched the housing unit which had narcotics.

Five inmates are facing multiple charges in relation to this attack. The Sheriff's Office has identified the five inmates as the following:

• 19-year-old Mario A. Rodriguez who is facing attempted murder charges along with assault with a deadly weapon and battery with serious bodily injury.
• 27-year-old Joey Valdez is facing attempted murder charges along with assault with a deadly weapon and battery with serious injury
• 20-year-old Adam Villareal who is is facing attempted murder charges along with assault with a deadly weapon and battery with serious injury
• 27-year-old Justin Michael Solorio who is facing attempted murder charges, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of narcotics for sale.
• 26-year-old Jose Antonio Mejia who is facing attempted murder charges along with assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a controlled substance.

This story will continue to be updated