Man Pleads Not Guilty in Killing of Boy, Woman
Jose Luis Leon, the man who allegedly killed the 13-year-old brother and grandmother of his ex-girlfriend in Corona earlier this month, pleaded not guilty to two charges of murder and one of attempted murder in Riverside Superior Court on Tuesday.
Leon, 24, is eligible for the death penalty because the charges include murder with special circumstances.
Riverside County Dist. Atty. Grover Trask is expected to decide whether to seek the death penalty within 90 days, Deputy Dist. Atty. John Davis said Tuesday.
Leon is accused of stabbing to death Austin Perez, 13, and his grandmother, Hope Ragland, on May 1. Leon also allegedly struck Ragland’s husband, Marion, on the head. Investigators say Leon confessed to the killings in a videotaped reenactment.
“This doesn’t have the feel of a death penalty case, given [Leon’s] age and the fact he had no criminal record before this,” said Eric Keen, Leon’s attorney.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
