Suspect in stabbings had no apparent criminal record

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HIDDEN VALLEY – The man accused of stabbing two children last week had no local adult criminal history, according to court records.


Thirty-one-year-old James Robert Pagan was arrested Friday for allegedly stabbing a 10-year-old girl to death and injuring another 14-year-old girl, as Lake County News has reported.


Pagan was reportedly being held in the Lake County Jail on $1 million bail. He did not appear in the inmate search on the sheriff's Web site Monday; however, the site has not been recording new bookings since late last week.


Authorities have not officially confirmed the two victims' identities, which sources told Lake County News were the children of a local physician.


Sheriff's deputies originally arrested Pagan on charges of murder, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, according to a sheriff's office statement on Saturday.


Lt. Dave Garzoli of the sheriff's investigations branch released additional information later Saturday that reported another charge – willful cruelty to a child – had been added.


Before his Friday arrest Pagan appears to have had little contact with local authorities.


In a search of Lake County Superior Court records, Pagan's name only showed up once – for a May 2007 traffic citation.


A search of criminal records in other counties where Pagan is believed to have lived previously also turned up no evidence of him having issues with the law as an adult.


As of Monday afternoon, a criminal filing against Pagan for the stabbing case had not been logged in the Superior Court records system.


Regarding the circumstances of this recent case, no further information has been forthcoming from investigators.


A sheriff's office statement on Saturday said further information would be available on Monday, but nothing more has so far been released.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


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