Man Pleads Not Guilty In Stabbing Rampage That Killed A Woman And Injured 3

SAN MARINO — An ex-con accused of killing a Temple City woman and injuring three others in a stabbing rampage that occurred over a 10-hour period, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder and attempted murder charges.

The criminal complaint includes allegations that John Ralph Perales, who also faces three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, personally used a knife and that he has a string of prior convictions, including in 1992 for burglary and in 2014 for false imprisonment by violence.

The murder charge stems from the Jan. 11 stabbing of Diane Alarcon, 40.

Perales, 45, of Temple City allegedly struck Alarcon and a man at her home with a wrench during an argument and then stabbed both of them with a knife before fleeing.

Perales is also accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend and her son at the woman's home in El Monte early that morning. Perales allegedly crawled on top of his ex-girlfriend as she slept, woke her up and stabbed her as she tried to fight him off.

The woman's son was injured when he tried to intervene, according to prosecutors.

Perales was arrested that day and has remained behind bars since then, according to jail records.

He is due back in a Pomona courtroom Aug. 21 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.

If convicted as charged, Perales could face up to life in state prison.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock