North County man charged with hate crime murder appears in court
Tyler Stevens, 21, of Paso Robles.
Stevens remains held in San Luis Obispo County Jail without bail
– A Paso Robles man accused of killing an Atascadero resident in a suspected hate crime made his first court appearance Wednesday, according to a report by the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Tyler Stevens, 21, was charged with the murder of 34-year-old Todd Joseph Pinion, who went missing on Oct. 30. Pinion’s body was later found in a remote area near Tassajara Creek, and his dog, Spock, was found dead at the base of the Cuesta Grade.
The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office has alleged that Stevens’ actions were motivated by Pinion’s “actual or perceived sexual orientation.”
Additional charges against Stevens include a hate crime enhancement, use of a deadly weapon, and felony animal cruelty.
According to the Tribune, the charges also include an enhancement for Stevens’ 2023 conviction for assaulting a peace officer, which adds a strike under California’s Three Strikes Law. Stevens remains held in San Luis Obispo County Jail without bail and is scheduled for arraignment on Nov. 21.
The Atascadero Police Department requests anyone with information related to the investigation to call (805) 461-5051.
