Man Who Stabbed Senior on CV Link Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison

A Palm Springs man who stabbed a senior walking on the CV Link on New Year's Eve has been sentenced to eight years in state prison after pleading guilty to elder abuse resulting in great bodily injury.

Jacob Ethan Masters, 53, entered his plea Monday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio as part of an agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. In exchange, prosecutors dropped several related charges. Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Tucker certified the deal and imposed the sentence immediately.

The attack happened the afternoon of Dec. 31 on a stretch of the CV Link between Cathedral Canyon and Golf Club drives. According to investigators, the victim—identified only as a local man with the initials "D.D."—crossed paths with Masters while walking home. The two made eye contact but nothing happened initially. About 15 minutes later, Masters allegedly put on a ski mask, chased after the man while screaming profanities, knocked him to the ground, and stabbed him before fleeing.

The victim was able to call for help and was treated at a Coachella Valley hospital for a non-life-threatening wound. He has since recovered.

Detectives identified Masters through witness descriptions and other evidence. He was arrested without incident on Jan. 11 at the intersection of Crossley Road and Sarah Street in Cathedral City.

Court records show Masters had prior convictions for domestic violence and auto theft.