Preliminary Hearing for La Mesa Suspect in Box-Cutter Slashing Case

A preliminary hearing was scheduled today for a La Mesa man accused of slashing an acquaintance with a box cutter.

Troy Edward Perott, 47, pleaded not guilty on Jan. 2 to a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon.

Perott allegedly cut a 31-year-old man twice in the torso and once in the neck around 6 p.m. Dec. 29 in a cul-de-sac near the intersection of Schoolridge Lane and Normal Avenue. The wounds were not life-threatening, and the motive for the attack was unclear.

Perott turned himself into police about three hours after the incident.

A judge will decide after the preliminary hearing whether there's enough evidence to order the defendant to stand trial.