People v. Alcaraz CA3

BACKGROUND

In December 2022, defendant attempted to break into a hotel room in Shasta County. When a hotel employee (the victim) confronted defendant and tried to get him to leave the property, defendant became aggressive. Defendant began shoving the victim toward the street. Defendant then advanced at the victim with a pocketknife while threatening to “book” him, i.e., stab him. Defendant also told the victim that it was his “last night working there,” which the victim understood as a threat. The victim defended himself against defendant’s attack. At one point, the victim fell to the pavement and defendant attempted to push the pocketknife into the victim’s chest. Eventually, with help from his girlfriend, the victim was able to take the pocketknife from defendant. Defendant then withdrew a second, larger knife from his waistband, at which point the victim’s girlfriend jumped on defendant and began clawing at his face. As she did so, the victim punched defendant in the face and snatched the second knife. The victim and his girlfriend then fled and called police. Redding police officers located defendant a short distance from the hotel and the victim identified him as the person…