IONE, Calif. — The suspect in a deadly Ione stabbing had twice been sentenced to a stay in prison, which included a prison sentence for attempted murder.
Joseph Stephens Jenkins, a 34-year-old transient of Ione, is accused of stabbing and killing one person and hurting two others. Police Chief John Alfred said the attack appeared to be a "random act of violence."
Alfred said Jenkins was recently released on parole.
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Jenkins was released on parole to the Department of State Hospitals Feb. 18, 2023. The Department of State Hospitals then released him to Orange County to address misdemeanor charges.
Prior Convictions for Jenkins
Jenkins was received by CDCR Feb. 7, 2011 to serve a three-year sentence for battery with serious injury. Due to 716 pre-sentence credits that he got for time served while awaiting trial, he was released to parole supervision Aug. 14, 2011.
However, Jenkins was back in prison Sept. 26, 2012 after being out on parole. He was there to serve a sentence of 14 years for attempted murder as a second striker. Due to 375 days of pre-sentence credits for time served while awaiting trial, he was paroled to the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) Feb. 18, 2023.
ABC10 sent an inquiry to DSH regarding Jenkins, but the inquiry was not immediately returned.
Jenkins was released from DSH to Orange County to face two misdemeanor charges dating back to Dec. 2012. Officials said he pleaded guilty to assault on a peace officer/emergency personnel and battery on a peace officer/emergency personnel. He was sentenced to eight days in county jail and given credit for time served.
Afterward Jenkins started reporting to the Division of Adult Parole Operations July 6, 2023.
