Defendant In Murrieta Halloween Stabbing Pleads Not Guilty

MURRIETA, CA — A San Bernardino County man accused of stabbing a Murrieta resident during a street confrontation on Halloween pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and other charges during a pre-holiday arraignment.

Matthew John McMahon, 35, of Yermo was arrested Thursday following a nearly week-long Murrieta Police Department investigation.

Along with attempted murder, McMahon is charged with sentence-enhancing allegations of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony and inflicting great bodily injury. The criminal complaint was filed Monday by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office to meet speedy arraignment requirements under state law, ahead of the Veterans Day holiday, during which courthouses countywide are closed.

The defendant was arraigned Monday afternoon before Superior Court Judge William Lebov, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Nov. 19 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

According to police, McMahon had been the subject of a manhunt since Oct. 31, when he allegedly attacked a man, whose identity was not disclosed, at the intersection of Margarita and Torrey Pines roads.

Capt. Jeremy Durrant alleged that just before 11 p.m., there was an unspecified confrontation between McMahon and the victim.

Durrant said the defendant allegedly inflicted "multiple stab wounds ... before fleeing the scene."

Several witnesses called 911, and patrol officers and Murrieta Fire & Rescue paramedics reached the location within minutes.

"Despite an exhaustive search, the suspect was not located," the captain said.

The victim was taken to a regional trauma center for treatment and remained in recovery this week. There was no word on his prognosis.

Durrant said detectives ran down leads that soon pointed to McMahon as the alleged assailant, and on Thursday afternoon he was apprehended without incident on East Williams Street in Yermo.

He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.