DA: Salinas man sentenced to 15 years for stabbing a transient in 2019 over a dozen times

UPDATE (8/2/22): A man was convicted to 15 years in prison Tuesday after pleading no contest to a Dec. 2019 stabbing, said Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni.

Mark Sandoval, now 30, was found guilty of attempted murder and admitted enhancements for personally inflicting great bodily injury and using a deadly weapon, said Pacioni. He also previously pleaded no contest to unlawful possession of a concealed firearm.

The stabbing happened at 450 Lincoln Avenue in Salinas in the parking lot of the Kasavan & Pope Building. Police found a transient male victim suffering from several stab wounds to his chest a torso, said Pacioni.

The man survived the potentially lethal injuries after being treated. Surveillance video showed Sandoval staring at his victim while he slept before stabbing him over a dozen times, said Pacioni.

A police dog found Sandoval the next day with a stolen, loaded firearm, said Pacioni.

Suspect in custody after stabbing at Salinas parking garage

UPDATE (12/23/19): A Salinas church helped the Salinas Police Department capture a suspect in Saturday's stabbing near the corner of Clay Street and Lincoln Avenue.

The United Methodist Church serves meals to those in need and sees more than 100 people daily.

“We know a lot of people that are homeless, or live on the street, and come here for services. A lot of the time, police will ask us do we know this person? Or have you seen this person?” Operations Manager Greg Fenton said.

Police approached the church Saturday and showed them a picture of the suspect from surveillance footage they captured from a nearby business. Fenton and the other workers recognized the suspect, 27-year-old Mark Sandoval, right away.

Then on Sunday, they spotted him from afar and contacted the police right away.

“We saw him from a distance, and we contacted the police, and they were here in a couple minutes,” Fenton said.

The Methodist Church said for the hundreds of people that come for services, there's very little crime, but it does happen.

“We work closely with businesses in the area and the police department. I feel like we’re working well with the entire community," Pastor Steve Lundin said.

The church also knew the victim, a 59-year-old man.

“He’s kind of disabled in a way, so that’s what’s sad he was probably in a position where he couldn’t do anything about it,” Fenton said.

Sandoval was charged with attempted murder. Police said that could change depending on the victim's recovery.

UPDATE (12/22/19 at 3:16 p.m.): According to the Salinas Police Department, 27-year-old Mark Sandoval was identified as the suspect in stabbing the 59-year-old victim. This morning the United Methodist Church contacted police and found Sandoval back in the same area. He was found in possession of a stolen loaded handgun and later booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges of attempted murder and firearm possession.

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) — Police blocked off a part of Clay Street and Lincoln Avenue to investigate a stabbing Saturday. Those that live nearby say it's an all-too-familiar scene.

"It's heartbreaking with all this going on in the neighborhood,” said one nearby resident. 

Police said a man was stabbed inside the Kasavan and Pope Building parking garage around 9:40 a.m. 

"It's pretty crazy because I'm always near this area right here. I've heard about it, but I've never actually seen something like that,” said nearby resident Gabriel Salinas.

An ambulance took the victim to a nearby hospital to be treated for his injuries. 

Police are still looking for a suspect but said they are in search of a male.  

A little over one month ago, a pregnant woman was stabbed and killed outside her home just blocks away from Saturday’s incident. The suspect, 43-year-old Garrett Scheff, is possibly facing two murder charges. Scheff is held in the Monterey County Jail on a bail of over $1 million. 

"It's scary. That's about all I can say. It's scary. It's unfortunate,” said one nearby resident who wanted to remain anonymous. She said she knew the victim of Saturday’s violent act. She said he is a nice guy who once found her I.D. on the street and returned it to her. 

"I see a lot of people on the streets. Maybe some of them are undercovers. I don't know. Everyone is trying to keep Salinas peaceful, but unfortunately, another incident happened,” said the woman.