A Santa Maria man accused of attempting to stab his parents to death in 2017 will appear in court on Thursday.
Jhordy Diaz Ramirez, 24, will appear before Judge John McGregor in the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria.
Mr. Ramirez is charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and two special allegations of inflicting great bodily injury on Silvia Narcisco Diaz, 40, and Ricardo Ramirez, 41.
At around 11:15 a.m. on May 12, 2017 Santa Maria Police Department officers responded to the 300 block of East Newlove Drive and found Jhordy Ramirez armed with an 8-to-10 inch long kitchen knife.
After a brief standoff, officers convinced Jhordy Ramirez to drop the knife. Police say he appeared to try to rearm himself as officers approached and an officer used a stun gun to subdue him.
Ms. Diaz and Ricardo Ramirez suffered multiple stab wounds and were taken to Marian Regional Medical Center with serious injuries.
In July 2017 Jhordy Ramirez’s defense attorney, David Bixby, declared a doubt as to his client’s mental competency to stand trial. Judge McGregor suspended the proceedings and ordered Mr. Ramirez to be evaluated by doctors for the prosecution and defense.
According to court records, Jhordy Ramirez next appeared in for a preliminary hearing setting conference on Jan. 25, 2018.
His preliminary hearing date has been put off a number of times since then. It is scheduled to be set on during Thursday’s hearing.
The preliminary hearing will determine whether evidence is sufficient for the defendant to stand trial as charged.
Judge McGregor considered his eligibility for mental health diversion in March, but court records do not indicate if a decision has been made.
A 2015 rape case is also in court this week in Santa Barbara.
In September 2017 Ronald Larry Ledesma was convicted of raping an intoxicated homeless woman outside a shelter in the back of his RV. The attack occurred on Nov. 5, 2015.
He was sentenced to 63 years to life in prison in February 2018.
Mr. Ledesma will appear before Judge Michael Carrozzo today for a resentencing hearing.
