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Crime & Safety

Updated: Accused Rossmoor Stabber Charged with Attempted Murder

James Anthony Rivas, 18, faces arraignment on multiple felony charges including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and attempted robbery.

An 18-year-old Rossmoor resident accused of trying to kill a female jogger by stabbing her multiple times was charged with attempted murder today.

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.

At Rivas' initial court appearance this afternoon, Orange County Superior Court Judge John Adams doubled the defendant's bail to $1 million bail. His arraignment was rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 5., W-1 West Justice Center, Westminster.

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If convicted, Rivas faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison.

Rivas was arrested by Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies, as he was leaving his home at about 7:45 p.m. on Friday, two days after the attack in the 3200 block of Bostonian Drive.

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At about 9 p.m. Oct. 23, Rivas allegedly approached a 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. Tuesday, ran away from sheriff's deputies Thursday night, 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.

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