Fatal Stabbing Of Rancho Mirage Man: Stepson Pleads Not Guilty To Murder

RANCHO MIRAGE, CA — A 36-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing his stepfather during a confrontation at the victim's Rancho Mirage home pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and other offenses.

Joshua Jordan Kohain King of Joshua Tree was arrested Thursday night following a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation into the slaying of 76-year-old Carl Harry Smith.

Along with murder, King is charged with a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

The defendant was arraigned Tuesday before Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Tucker, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Oct. 15 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

King is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Marcos Acosta, at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, the defendant and victim were involved in an unspecified dispute at the latter's property in the 36000 block of Palm View Road, near Cypress Lane.

During the conflict, King allegedly pulled a knife and inflicted life-threatening wounds on his stepfather, Acosta said.

He said the senior died in the house before paramedics could render aid.

King was questioned and taken into custody without incident at the residence later that night.

He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.