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Temple City Man Pleads Guilty To Attempted Murder

A 45-year-old man pleaded guilty today to killing a woman and attacking three others over a span of 10 hours, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

At Monday’s court appearance, John Ralph Perales of Temple City pleaded guilty to four felony counts in case KA114353: one count of second-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.

Gavel. - Courtesy image from Morguefile.com.

Gavel. – Courtesy image from Morguefile.com.

The defendant also admitted a special allegation that he personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon in each of the crimes. Perales also admitted that he had been previously convicted of first-degree residential burglary in 1992.

Perales is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 15 in Department P of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pomona Branch. He faces 45 years to life in state prison.

Deputy District Attorney Michael Matoba of the Victim Impact Program, who prosecuted the case, said Perales went to his ex-girlfriend’s El Monte home in the early morning of Jan. 11.

After spending some time there, Perales crawled on top of his ex-girlfriend as she was sleeping, woke her up and then cut her with a knife, the prosecutor said. As the victim fought Perales off of her, her son tried to help and he was stabbed, the prosecutor added.

Following the attack, Perales fled the scene and later went to the Temple City home of Diane Alarcon. While spending some time there with Alarcon and another male guest, an argument ensued and Perales struck both Alarcon and the male with a wrench, according to the prosecutor.

As Alarcon lay unconscious, the defendant stabbed her in the back, the prosecutor said.

Authorities arrived at Alarcon’s home and the injured male was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Alarcon later died from her injuries.

Law enforcement later located the defendant at his residence and he was arrested in connection with the attacks.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the El Monte Police Department.

News Release from Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.