James Ronald Pagan, 31, was arraigned in Lake County Superior Court before Judge Arthur Mann Tuesday afternoon.
Pagan was arrested by sheriff's investigators for his alleged involvement in the stabbing of 10-year-old Tessa Faith Walker and her sister, 14-year-old Kristen Marie Walker on the afternoon of March 21 near their home on Firethorn Road in Hidden Valley.
The girls' father, Dr. Ronald Walker, confirmed the girls' identity to Lake County News on Tuesday.
Tessa Walker – who suffered “multiple sharp force injuries,” according to new information released Tuesday by the Lake County Sheriff's Office – died Friday at Redbud Hospital. Kristen Walker was transported to Oakland Children's Hospital for treatment of a moderate stab wound. Her father said she has since returned home.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff, who is prosecuting the case, said Pagan is facing both a murder charge and an allegation of mayhem in Tessa Walker's death.
In addition, Hinchcliff said Pagan has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and felony child abuse in connection with the assault on Kristen Walker.
Pagan did not enter a plea in the case, Hinchcliff said. Public defender Ken Roush has been appointed to defend Pagan.
The only previous legal infraction attributed to Pagan is a May 2007 parking citation, according to Lake County Superior Court records.
Hinchcliff said Pagan will return to Superior Court Department 4 for plea entry on April 11. A bail hearing also is set for that day.
On Tuesday Hinchcliff successfully argued for Pagan remaining in the Lake County Jail without bail.
With the stabbings having taken place just days ago, the sheriff's office reported that its investigation remains under way.
Hinchcliff said he couldn't speak to the motives or particulars of the case. “I have very little in the way of reports so far.”
The sheriff's office released an updated report on the incident Tuesday afternoon.
A report from Chief Deputy Jim Bauman elaborated on the events of March 21, including the fact that eyewitnesses saw a male suspect commit the assaults and then escape to a nearby home on Sugar Bush Court.
Bauman said, based on the description given by witnesses, deputies detained Pagan at a home on Sugar Bush, reportedly the home he shared with his parents.
Among key pieces of evidence, said Bauman, was a kitchen knife found by investigators near the area where Tessa Walker was stabbed.
In the statement the Walker family released they said they're grieving the loss of Tessa – who dreamed of being a doctor like her father – but added, “We forgive the man who took our daughter from us, even for this short time, for by forgiving others, we ourselves are forgiven.”
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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