COVINA >> A judge sentenced a 38-year-old transient to 17 years in prison Wednesday for a breaking into a Covina family’s home and trying to stab a resident with a metal stake while hallucinating on methamphetamine last year, officials said.
Jeffrey Benjamin Jimenez pleaded “no contest” to charges of burglary with a person present and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the bizarre crimes, which took place March 15 in the 1300 block of North Glenfinnan Avenue, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani said in a written statement. He was immediately sentenced.
Police said they believed Jimenez was under the influence of methamphetamine and hallucinating when he walked into the family’s home and said he wanted to search it because he’d heard the voice of one of his family members calling out from inside.
The home was occupied by a man, a woman and their two sons, Covina police Lt. Rick Walczak said at the time.
“Jimenez reportedly tried to stab the homeowner with the metal rod, but the victim was able to distance himself with a table,” Ardalani said. “At some point, the defendant exited the home and then smashed the home’s windows before he ultimately left the scene.”
Police arrested Jimenez nearby.