Crime & Safety
Man Accused of Stabbing Rossmoor Jogger Pleads Not Guilty
Charged with attempted murder and attempted robbery, Rossmoor resident James Anthony Rivas, 18, is due back in court Jan. 17.
An 18-year-old Rossmoor resident accused of trying to kill a female jogger by stabbing her multiple times is due back in court Jan. 17 after he pleaded not guilty recently to charges of attempted murder.
James Anthony Rivas, faces one count each of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem and attempted second-degree robbery, with sentence-enhancing allegations of attempted premeditated murder and inflicting great bodily harm, according to court records.
His pretrial hearing is scheduled Jan. 17 8:30 a.m. W-1 at the West Justice Center, Westminster.
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Rivas pleaded not guilty Nov. 5 according to court records.
If convicted, Rivas faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison.
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Rivas was arrested by Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies, as he was leaving his home at about 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 28, two days after the attack in the 3200 block of Bostonian Drive.
At about 9 p.m. Oct. 23, Rivas allegedly approached a Rossmoor resident, 27-year-old Jane Doe, who was jogging through a residential neighborhood in Rossmoor, according to the D.A.
Rivas then allegedly snuck up behind Doe, grabbed her and stabbed her several times with a knife, cutting her face, back, arm and hand.
After Doe knocked the knife out of his hand, Rivas allegedly picked the knife up again and chased Doe and continued to stab her.
Rivas is also accused of fleeing the scene after a neighbor heard screaming and came outside.
Doe was taken to the hospital, treated for non-life threatening injuries and released.
Interviews with area residents led investigators to Rivas, who fit the description provided by the victim and was known to ride a BMX bike and carry knives, said Gail Krause of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
Rivas, who lives about three blocks from where the assault happened at 9:11 p.m., ran away from sheriff's deputies Oct. 27, but they quickly took him into custody, Krause said.
Investigators found a knife nearby that will be analyzed at the Orange County Crime Lab, she said.
Upon hearing her screaming, a resident of the community rushed outside, and the assailant fled on a BMX bicycle, according to Jim Amormino with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
“He made no attempt to sexually assault her,” Amormino said, “and he didn't say one word. She said he looked angry.”
-- City News Service Contributed to this story
