Jerome Alvey found guilty of felony assault in attack that blinded victim

On July 14, 2021, a Plumas County jury found Jerome Albert Alvey, age 55 of Quincy, guilty of felony assault with a deadly weapon, misdemeanor battery and found Alvey had inflicted great bodily in the commission of the felony assault.

Alvey was arrested Nov. 16, 2020 following an assault where Alvey had punched his 65-year-old neighbor in the face while holding a metal garden hose nozzle. The incident began when a friend of the 65-year-old victim’s adult daughter had parked his vehicle in front of Alvey’s residence. Upset at where the vehicle was parked, Alvey began to spray the victim’s adult daughter and her friend with a hose. Upon being sprayed, the victim’s adult daughter yelled for help.

The victim then walked over to Alvey’s yard whereupon Alvey began spraying the victim, in addition to his adult daughter and her friend, with the hose. The victim yelled at Alvey, his neighbor of 10 years, “what the heck are you doing?”

Alvey responded by punching the victim in the face with the metal nozzle of the garden hose hitting the victim in the eye. The police were called and the victim was transported to Plumas District Hospital then flown by helicopter to Enloe Hosital in Chico. The victim suffered significant lacerations to his face near his left eye as well as a 100 percent hyphema, and damage to his tear duct and upper tarsal plate. As a result of the assault, the 65-year-old victim has been permanently blinded in his left eye. Following the jury’s verdict, Alvey admitted to the court he had previously suffered a prior conviction which may enhance his sentence.

The Honorable Janet Hilde presided over the three-day jury trial which saw six witnesses testify and 23 exhibits admitted into evidence. The jury trial was the first in Plumas County with an in-custody defendant being tried on a felony charge since California’s relaxing of Covid restrictions and, despite some electrical challenges due to a local forest fire, proceeded almost as normal, with a pre-Covid efficiency.

The prosecuting attorney, Plumas County District Attorney David Hollister, offered his appreciation for the efforts and attentiveness of the jury, the outstanding work by the investigating officer, Plumas County Detective Christina Ross, and the support from Deputy District Attorney Kelly Styger as well as DA Investigator Jessica Beatley. Hollister noted his gratitude for the patience and grace demonstrated by the victims during a very difficult trial, particularly the 65 year old victim who had lost sight in his left eye.

“This was a violent and senseless attack permanently altering the life of the victim. While we cannot undo the damage done, this verdict hopefully demonstrates justice will be served in Plumas County and those engaging in such horrible crimes will be held accountable,” Hollister said.

Jerome Alvey is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10, 2021 where he faces a possible prison term of up to 16 years.