Man Found Guilty of Attempted Murder in Arcadia

Jason Scott Gustin. – Courtesy photo / LASD

Facing 29 years in prison

By Staff

A jury has found a 20-year-old man guilty of slashing his teenage ex-girlfriend’s throat two years ago, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Deputy District Attorney Presciliano Duran said Jason Scott Gustin of Azusa was found guilty of attempted murder and mayhem in case GA099518.

The jury also found true a special allegation that the defendant personally inflicted great bodily injury upon the victim under circumstances involving domestic violence and that he used a knife, during the commission of the crimes.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 4 in Department G of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Alhambra Branch. He faces 29 years to life in state prison.

After nearly two years of dating, Gustin’s 17-year-old girlfriend broke up with him on Aug. 17, 2016. On Aug. 22, 2016, the defendant convinced her to meet again to talk about the end of their relationship, the prosecutor said.

According to testimony at trial, the two met near Arcadia and sat in Gustin’s car to talk when he pulled out a knife and slashed her throat and then began strangling her. As the victim tried to escape, the defendant slashed the back of her neck, stabbed her arm and cut the entire length of her right thigh, according to the prosecutor.

When the victim was finally able to get herself out of the vehicle, she ran nearly a quarter of a mile to a nearby convalescent home. Gustin chased her but a nurse at the home locked the doors and prevented his entry, according to witness testimony. He was arrested a short time later after he showed up at his mother’s workplace in Arcadia, the prosecutor added.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Temple Station.

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