Monterey County District Attorney's Office
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Speakers Bureau The Speakers Bureau is a community outreach and education program that matches qualified members of the District Attorney’s staff with community groups and organizations wishing to learn more about various aspects of the criminal justice system. The program is free and available to the public. Entities such as neighborhood organizations, educational institutions, faith-based groups, and clubs or organizations should feel free to request a speaker for meeting or gathering. |
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| Multi-Cultural Community Council | |||
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Community Events
25th Annual Victims' Dedication Ceremony
Annual Police Memorial National Night Out - To be announced Public Safety Night - To be announced |
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The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office will serve as a strong voice for the community on important public safety issues. With a focus on legislative issues, the government relations team will take a proactive role in shaping laws that impact public safety. |
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Legislative Issues Assembly Bill 109 Realignment, which shifted thousands of state prison inmates to local jurisdictions. Proposition 47, which dramatically reduced the crime and consequences for drug users and thieves. Proposition 57, which eliminated prosecutors’ ability to directly send a juvenile accused of a serious or violent offense to adult court and created a new criteria for early release of prisoners from state prison. |
Bills Supported |
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Programs and Services A Victim Assistance Advocate will speak with you and determine how we can assist you. Program services are provided free of charge and there is no legal citizenship requirement to receive assistance. |
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Facility Dogs
Family Justice Center
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Upon the request of the jurisdictional law enforcement agency the
Monterey County District Attorney’s Office will investigate and
independently review an officer-involved shooting incident resulting
in injury or death, as well as all other uses of force resulting in
the death of individuals while in custody or under the control of
law enforcement officers. This review addresses whether the
officers involved committed any violation of criminal law. It
does not consider issues of civil liability, police tactics, or
department policies and procedures.
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Our Mission |
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Policies
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Frequently Asked Questions |
| Forms | Brochures | Career Opportunities Public Records Act Requests | Local Agencies/Resources |
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The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of
Investigation consists of 32 full time employees and multiple
volunteer interns. The Bureau of Investigation is managed by
Chief Investigator Ryan McGuirk who reports directly to District
Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni and has overall responsibility for
Bureau operations and resource allocation. Chief McGuirk manages the
Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of two (2) District
Attorney Captains. In addition to these command staff, the
Bureau of Investigation has twenty-four (24) Investigators, six (6)
Investigative Aides and several volunteer investigative interns.
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| Collaborative Courts | Criminal Prosecutions | Specialty Units | Fraud |
|
Speakers Bureau The Speakers Bureau is a community outreach and education program that matches qualified members of the District Attorney’s staff with community groups and organizations wishing to learn more about various aspects of the criminal justice system. The program is free and available to the public. Entities such as neighborhood organizations, educational institutions, faith-based groups, and clubs or organizations should feel free to request a speaker for meeting or gathering. |
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| Suggested Topics | |||
|
|
|
|
| Speaker Request Form | |||
| Multi-Cultural Community Council | |||
|
Programs and Services A Victim Assistance Advocate will speak with you and determine how we can assist you. Program services are provided free of charge and there is no legal citizenship requirement to receive assistance. |
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|
|
|
Facility Dogs |
|
Upon the request of the jurisdictional law enforcement
agency the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office will
investigate and independently review an officer-involved
shooting incident resulting in injury or death, as well as
all other uses of force resulting in the death of
individuals while in custody or under the control of law
enforcement officers. This review addresses whether
the officers involved committed any violation of criminal
law. It does not consider issues of civil liability,
police tactics, or department policies and procedures.
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| Press Releases |
| Press Release Archives |
| Social Media Links |
| Press Conference Videos |
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Our Mission |
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Policies | Frequently Asked Questions |
| Forms | Brochures | Career Opportunities Public Records Act Requests | Local Agencies/Resources |
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The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of
Investigation consists of 32 full time employees and
multiple volunteer interns. The Bureau of
Investigation is managed by Chief Investigator Ryan McGuirk
who reports directly to District Attorney Jeannine M.
Pacioni and has overall responsibility for Bureau operations
and resource allocation. Chief McGuirk manages the Bureau of
Investigation with the assistance of two (2) District
Attorney Captains. In addition to these command staff,
the Bureau of Investigation has twenty-four (24)
Investigators, six (6) Investigative Aides and several
volunteer investigative interns.
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Meet the District Attorney
Ms. Pacioni received her Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University. After receiving her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of San Diego, School of Law in 1990, she became licensed to practice law in the states of California and Arizona. In 1990, she worked as a Deputy District Attorney for the Kern County District Attorney’s Office and in 1992 she joined the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
In 2001, she left to raise her family, returning after an 8-year sabbatical during which time she also served as a Grand Juror of the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury, and as President of the Junior League of Monterey County. In 2012, she joined the National Charity League of Monterey Bay, of which she has served as a member of their Board of Directors. Ms. Pacioni was formerly a Board Member of the Monterey Rape Crisis Center, and is currently a member of the Monterey County Children’s Council and the Child Abuse Prevention Council. She is also a member of the Monterey County Bar Association and the California District Attorneys Association and the Monterey County Chief Law Enforcement Officers Association.
Ms. Pacioni has devoted her entire legal career to the pursuit of justice while handling virtually every type of criminal case prosecuted in Monterey County. For 20 years as a prosecutor, she has tenaciously represented victims of crime in numerous high-profile cases involving murder, gang crimes, vehicular manslaughter, assault, robbery, child molestation, adult sexual assault, and elder abuse. On November 21, 2019, Ms. Pacioni was recognized by the Monterey County Women's Lawyers Association as the 2019 recipient of the Lady Justice Lifetime Achievement Award for Legal Advocacy and Community Service.
In 2018, she was elected and became the first female District Attorney in Monterey County.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Press Releases
SALINAS MAN PLEADS NO CONTEST TO STABBING EX-GIRLFRIEND, ASSAULTING OFFICER WITH A DEADLY WEAPON, AND USING DAUGHTER AS HUMAN SHIELD AFTER MAY 2025 POLICE CHASE
Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced today that Oscar Villareal, Jr., age 46 of Salinas, pleaded no contest to a variety of criminal charges arising from a May 16, 2025 incident where he stabbed his ex-girlfriend, threatened to kill a relative, crashed a truck into a pursuing police vehicle, led officers on a high-speed chase, and used his seven-year-old daughter as a human shield to avoid arrest. He will receive a term of 20 years and four months in state prison.
On May 16, 2025, Villareal went to the home of his ex-girlfriend, Jane Doe 1, who currently had custody of his seven-year-old daughter, Jane Doe 2. Villareal and Jane Doe 1 argued about custody issues. Jane Doe 1 agreed Villareal could take Jane Doe 2 to the park to play. Leaving Jane Doe 2 at the park, Villareal returned to Jane Doe 1’s house, pushed her to the ground, and stabbed her once in the neck with a folding knife. He attempted to stab Jane Doe 1 again, but she was able to block the blade with her hand. At the time of the attack, Jane Doe 1 was on the phone with a female relative of Villareal’s, who overheard the stabbing. Villareal then told the relative that he killed Jane Doe 1 and was on his way to kill her and everyone in her house.
Villareal went to the relative’s home and banged on the door, demanding to be let inside. The relative’s husband let him know that the police had been called. Villareal made the husband drive Villareal away from the scene, pick up Jane Doe 2, and drive to Gonzales. On the way to Gonzales, a California Highway Patrol officer pulled over the truck. The relative’s husband exited the truck, but Villareal then got into the driver’s seat and began to drive away. Villareal crashed the truck into the CHP officer’s car twice, nearly hitting her as she stood outside the car ordered him to stop.
Villareal drove recklessly to avoid pursuing officers, weaving in and out of his lane at speeds of more than 85 miles per hour. The pursuit lasted approximately 10 minutes before another CHP officer successfully executed a PIT maneuver that disabled the truck and forced it up against the guardrail.
For approximately one hour, Villareal refused to exit the truck, claiming he had a loaded firearm and would kill himself. He moved Jane Doe 2 from her position in the backseat into Villareal’s lap, despite multiple officers pointing firearms at him. He repeatedly told the officers to shoot him in front of his child. A certified hostage negotiator with Salinas Police Department was able to de-escalate the situation and ultimately take Villareal into custody.
Villareal’s ex-girlfriend survived the stabbing, but she required surgery to repair her stab wound. Jane Doe 2 was uninjured.
On February 3, 2026, Villareal pleaded no contest to inflicting corporal injury on Jane Doe 1 with a prior conviction for the same offense, false imprisonment of a hostage, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, making a criminal threat to the female relative, and evading police while driving recklessly. He admitted that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on Jane Doe 1 under circumstances involving domestic violence and that he had suffered a prior “strike” conviction within the meaning of California’s Three Strikes Law.
Judge Mark E. Hood will sentence Villareal to 20 years and four months in prison on March 5, 2026.
The incident was primarily investigated by the Salinas Police Department, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol, with the valuable assistance of multiple other local agencies.
Contact Us
Main Office
142 W. Alisal Street, Suite A, Salinas, California 93901
Monterey Office
1200 Aguajito Rd. Room 301, Monterey, California 93940
King City Office
250 Franciscan Way, King City, California 93960
Phone: (831) 755-5070
Fax: (831) 755-5068
Email: publicinformation@co.monterey.ca.us