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By Courtney McGinley
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The court has suspended Lonnie Hinton's hearing for the fatal stabbing of 65-year-old employee Jessica Morales in a random attack inside a California Walmart.
Deputies responded to the Riverside County Walmart on August 5, where they found Morales with multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene and Hinton, who was on parole at the time, was charged with one count of murder and one count of lying in wait.
Hinton, a Wildomar resident, turned himself in at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff's station after the woman's death.
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The Riverside District Attorney's Office told Newsweek that Hinton's court proceedings are now on hold. He was supposed to attend a felony settlement conference on October 10. The point of the hearing is for attorneys to exchange discovery and try to negotiate a plea deal before trial.
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District Attorney Michael Maloney said the defense raised concerns about the defendant's competency to stand trial under Penal Code Section 1368, leading to the suspension of criminal proceedings.
Attorneys requested doctors to evaluate Hinton, and they are scheduled to return to court on December 5 to review the reports.
What is California Penal Code Section 1368?
California Penal Code Section 1368 outlines the process for determining a defendant's competency to stand trial. Under this law, defendants are presumed competent unless evidence suggests otherwise. They must possess a rational understanding of the charges against them and be capable of assisting in their defense.
When a doubt arises about a defendant's mental competence, the court is required to appoint a mental health expert for evaluation. If the evaluation raises concerns about the defendant's competency, a court hearing is scheduled to address the issue, placing the burden of proof on the party questioning the defendant's mental state.
If the court finds the defendant incompetent, they may be committed to a mental health facility until deemed competent to proceed with their trial.
Previous Stabbing Comes to Light
Almost four years ago, Hinton stabbed a former restaurant worker from Perris, California.
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Hinton allegedly attacked Arturo Juarez, who was cooking at Gus Jr.'s restaurant on Nov. 8, 2020, following an altercation with another employee over a tip jar theft. Juarez told Newsweek he left the restaurant but returned later with a knife.
He allegedly stabbed Juarez four times — three times in the back and once in the left arm —before fleeing. Emergency responders rushed Juarez to Riverside University Health System (RUHS) in Moreno Valley, where he survived but faced a grueling recovery.
Police arrested Hinton that same day he attacked Juarez and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon, petty theft and robbery. However, prosecutors dropped the assault charge in a plea deal. Hinton served a five-year prison sentence and was released on parole earlier this year.
"He did the same thing, the same situation, with a knife to another innocent employee who just went to work like I did," Juarez previously told Newsweek. "She didn't know it would be the last day of her life, just like I didn't know if it would be the last day of mine. Thanks to God, I survived, though I'm in very bad shape."
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Juarez's battle for justice extends beyond his own suffering. He is now advocating for both himself and Morales, seeking accountability for Hinton's actions and the failure of the justice system.
"I spoke with the sheriff, I told them I want to go to court to talk about this," Juarez said.
Hinton will return to the Riverside County Courthouse on December 5 for a competency hearing where they'll discuss the doctor's evaluation.
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