Visalia Man Found Guilty in Starbucks Pepper Spray Attack

Visalia Starbucks Pepper Spray Attacker Found Guilty

By Anthony W. Haddad

Published 4 months ago on

January 21, 2025

James Edward Jackson, 70, was convicted on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, for a pepper spray attack at a Visalia Starbucks. He faces up to six years in prison. (Tulare County DA)

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A 70-year-old man faces up to six years in prison after being convicted of attacking employees and customers at a Starbucks in Visalia with pepper spray last year, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release Tuesday.

James Edward Jackson, of Visalia, was found guilty on Jan. 16 of felony use of tear gas and two counts of obstructing a peace officer.

The charges stem from a July 12, 2024, incident at a Starbucks on Mooney Boulevard.

According to prosecutors, Jackson entered the coffee shop at about 11 a.m. and became agitated while waiting for a sandwich.

Officials said that he grew aggressive, demanding faster service, before unleashing pepper spray on employees and patrons.

Victims suffered coughing fits, skin and eye irritation, and other respiratory issues, with some effects persisting for days.

When police arrived, Jackson was found outside the store holding a can of pepper spray, with two additional cans on his person.

Authorities said he resisted arrest, delaying police and medical responders for several hours.

Jackson, who has a prior strike from a 2001 assault conviction, is scheduled for sentencing on March 12, where he could receive a maximum sentence of six years in state prison, the DA’s office said.

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Anthony W. Haddad,

Multimedia Journalist

Anthony W. Haddad, who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with his undergraduate degree and attended Fresno State for a MBA, is the Swiss Army knife of GV Wire. He writes stories, manages social media, and represents the organization on the ground.