Indio man to stand trial in alleged screwdriver stabbings of 2 women

A man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend and another woman with a screwdriver, then barricading himself inside an Indio home for nearly three hours before surrendering, was ordered today to stand trial on attempted murder, torture and other charges.

Erick Maciel, 32, faces 10 felony counts stemming from the March 4, 2017, stabbings of his ex-girlfriend and her friend, identified only as Jane and Mary Doe in court documents. Maciel allegedly stabbed both women several times in the face and neck with multiple screwdrivers at a home in the 81500 block of Santa Barbara Court.

Deputy District Attorney Gypsy Yeager argued Wednesday that the attacks were “unprovoked” and did not follow any sort of argument or provocation between Maciel and the women.

Indio police responded at 12:26 p.m. that day to the home, where the victims were found and taken to a hospital.

Maciel allegedly barricaded himself inside the home after the women were removed from the scene, leading officers to establish a perimeter around the residence out of fear that Maciel might be armed with a shotgun, Indio Sgt. Daniel Marshall said. The standoff ended peacefully about 3 p.m., with Maciel surrendering.

Maciel is charged with two counts each of attempted murder, false imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon, along with one count each of torture, aggravated mayhem, mayhem and domestic violence. The criminal complaint also lists several sentence-enhancing allegations of domestic
violence and inflicting great bodily injury upon the women.

Maciel has been held without bail since his arrest, but his attorney, Mario Rodriguez, asked Wednesday that his bail be set at $200,000. The request was rejected by Riverside County Superior Court Judge Victoria Cameron, who said she felt Maciel “poses an extreme danger to the public” and any proposed
safety measures would likely be insufficient to protect the two alleged victims in the case.

Maciel will return to court April 12 for a post-preliminary hearing arraignment.