Career Criminal James C. McCurdy, Jr. Guilty of Criminal Threats Against Female Prison Staff Member

Author: District Attorney
Date: 8/5/2024 4:51 PM

District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that a San Luis Obispo County jury convicted California Men’s Colony inmate James Clayton McCurdy, Jr. (DOB 02/10/1985) of making felony Criminal Threats against a female Psychiatric Technician working at the prison.

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The incident occurred in January 2023 after the technician located contraband in Inmate McCurdy’s cell and reported it to a correctional officer.  The jury heard evidence that the nine-time convicted Inmate McCurdy became enraged and retaliated by hurling repeated and prolonged threats to kill and blind the technician, as well as calling her several vulgar names. 

The victim was in fear for her life and had to be reassigned to a different part of the prison for her safety.  

The defendant is a career criminal with an extensive criminal history. He has been previously convicted of felonies on nine separate occasions and sentenced to prison numerous times for those crimes prior to committing this crime: 

•    Convicted in 2006 of Vehicle Code section 10851, stealing a motor vehicle (Napa County).
•    Convicted in 2007 of Vehicle Code section 10851, stealing a motor vehicle (Napa County).
•    Convicted in 2008 of Penal Code section 211/213, attempted second degree robbery (Napa County).
•    Convicted in 2009 of Health & Safety Code section 11379, possession of a controlled narcotic substance (Napa County).
•    Convicted in 2011 of Health & Safety Code section 11352(a) transportation of narcotics for sale (Sonoma County).
•    Convicted in 2019 of Penal Code section 4501.5, battery of a non-confined person while confined in state prison. (Kings County).
•    Convicted in 2020 of Penal Code section 4501.5, battery of a non-confined person while confined in state prison (Solano County).
•    Convicted in 2021 of two separate counts of Penal Code section 4501.5, battery of a non-confined person while confined in state prison (Kings County).

The jury trial lasted four days and the defendant is scheduled to be sentenced in Department 9 on October 2, 2024, the Honorable Crystal Seiler presiding.  The maximum sentence for this charge, based upon his status as a person convicted of a prior serious or violent "strike" offense, is six years in state prison.

This case was investigated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Investigative Services Unit and was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Mahjoubeh Foolad.

Here is a copy of the charging document. Here is a photo of the defendant obtained from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, taken on November 5, 2019. 

Please contact Assistant District Attorney Eric J. Dobroth at 805-781-5819 with any questions.        
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