Man accused of killing Todd Joseph Pinion appears in court

Tyler Grant Stevens, a 21-year-old from Paso Robles, appeared before a judge Wednesday morning for the first time since his arrest over the weekend.

Stevens is charged with the murder of 34-year-old Todd Joseph Pinion. He also faces charges of enhancing hate crimes and animal abuse. Pinion's dog, Spock, was found dead along Highway 101, days before Pinion's body was discovered near Santa Margarita over the weekend.

“We believe this murder was committed by the defendant based on his beliefs about the victim’s sexual orientation,” said San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow.

In court Wednesday, Stevens' defense attorney, Matthew Kraut, asked the judge to continue his arraignment until Nov. 21. Stevens has not yet entered a plea and remains held without bail in the San Luis Obispo County Jail.

Stevens already has a warning under California's three strikes law. In 2022, he was convicted of assault on a peace officer in connection with a reckless driving incident in San Luis Obispo.

Because of this strike, if Stevens were convicted of murder, Dow said his sentence would be doubled. However, because he is under 25, California law protects him from a longer sentence.

“Given that the defendant is only 21 years old, there is a juvenile offender law in California that says that if you are under… 25 years old or younger, if you commit a crime, no matter what This is serious if you are “If you are sentenced to more than 25 years to life in prison, you have to serve 25 years and are then eligible for parole,” explained Dow.

Kraut declined to comment further on the case.