Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Jarvell Kent, a 30-year-old from Fresno, has entered a guilty plea to charges of assault with a deadly weapon at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that on April 28, 2024, Kent pursued another inmate within the cell block of USP Atwater while wielding a knife-like weapon crafted in jail. Alongside another inmate, Kent used this makeshift knife to stab the victim, resulting in injuries that required medical treatment.
The case is being handled following an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is leading the prosecution.
Kent's sentencing is set for June 23, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff. He could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 as per statutory guidelines. However, the final sentence will be determined by the court after evaluating relevant statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines which consider various elements.
