A man accused of stabbing a 35-year-old motorist during a traffic dispute in Temecula must stand trial for attempted murder and other charges, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Rigoberto R. Reyes, 44, was arrested in May 2021 following the alleged attack in the 28400 block of Old Town Front Street, near Moreno Road.
Listen and subscribe to The L.A. Local podcast: your TL;DR for what's happening in Southern California
At the end of a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Stephen Gallon found there was sufficient evidence to warrant a trial on the attempted murder count, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony and inflicting great bodily injury.
The judge scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for Jan. 3 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta and ordered Reyes to remain held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center.
According to sheriff's Sgt. Frank Tiburzio, shortly before 1 p.m. on May 21, 2022, Reyes and the victim, identified only as an "adult male," were involved in an unspecified roadway dispute while in their respective vehicles.
The confrontation culminated in the two men stopping on Old Town Front Street, where Reyes allegedly pulled a knife and attacked the victim, inflicting "multiple stab wounds," the sergeant said.
He alleged the defendant fled the location immediately afterward.
Witnesses called 911, and the victim was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar, where he received emergency treatment. He has since recovered from his injuries.
Tiburzio said that patrol deputies were able to obtain the license plate information on the vehicle the suspect was driving. They spotted it minutes later in the 42200 block of Main Street, where the defendant was taken into custody without incident.
Reyes has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok