Kristin Smart killer Paul Flores expected to make full recovery after prison attack, attorney says

The man convicted of murdering Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart was seriously injured in the neck during a prison attack Wednesday, his lawyer told The Tribune on Friday morning.

Paul Flores was transferred to Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga earlier this month.

According to his attorney, Harold Mesick, prison officials kept Flores in isolation for two days — a standard procedure, Mesick said — before reevaluating where he should stay in isolation or be moved into the general population.

Mesick said Flores was in the prison yard Wednesday morning when another inmate attacked him with a bladed weapon. It is unclear whether Wednesday was his first day in the yard.

Flores was either stabbed in the neck or cut in the side of the neck, Mesick said, contradicting reports from “Your Own Backyard” podcast host Chris Lambert and Santa Barbara television station KEYT-TV.

Flores’ throat was not slit, Mesick said.

Flores was promptly transferred to an outside hospital in serious condition, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said.

Flores’ condition had improved to “fair” by Thursday morning, the CDCR said, and he was later transferred back to the Coalinga prison.

Mesick will not have a chance to speak with his client directly until next week, he said, but has been in close communication with the prison and Flores’ mother, Susan.

“I prayed for his full recovery,” Mesick said, “And I believe he will make a full recovery.”

Mesick added that Flores’ parents are happy that their son is OK.

A jury convicted Flores of murdering Smart on Oct. 18 after a three-month trial. He was sentenced to 25 years to life for the crime in March.

A separate jury acquitted his father, Ruben Flores, of helping his son conceal the crime.

Flores was transferred to North Kern State Prison in Delano in March before being moved to Pleasant Valley State Prison in August.