FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A Selma man accused of fatally stabbing his younger brother will remain behind bars after a judge rejected his request for release, citing concerns for public safety and the safety of his own family.
Just one week after his arrest, Jose Miranda Jr. pleaded not guilty Monday to the murder of his 19-year-old brother, Diego Miranda.
During the hearing, Miranda’s attorney argued that he should be released pending trial, saying he plays an important role caring for his younger siblings while his parents are at work.
“He was working 20 to 30 hours per week prior to this incident. He additionally takes care of his little brothers because his parents are usually working,” defense attorney Jason Olson told the court.
Prosecutors strongly opposed the request, pointing out that the victim in the case was one of those siblings.
“Quite frankly, it’s somewhat of an appalling representation by Mr. Miranda, that he previously has taken care of his little brothers because the decedent victim is one of his brothers,” Deputy District Attorney Adam Christopherson said.
The hearing also revealed new details about the deadly stabbing.
According to prosecutors, the attack occurred while the brothers’ parents were away from the home taking a younger child to school. Christopherson said Miranda allegedly stabbed Diego in the abdomen with what he described as a “Rambo-style knife.”
When family members returned home, prosecutors said they found a chaotic and bloody scene.
“When they asked him what happened. He initially talked about a rabid animal, then tried to claim self-defense,” Christopherson said.
The defense argued the stabbing stemmed from a confrontation between the two brothers and insisted Miranda does not pose a danger to the broader public.
“I think this is an isolated incident. I think that we could afford him pretrial services, and anger management, GPS,” Olson argued.
Prosecutors disagreed.
“I think he is in fact a substantial public safety and flight risk in this case,” Christopherson said.
Ultimately, the judge sided with the prosecution and ordered Miranda to remain in custody.
“I do find that he does pose a danger to the community and to the rest of his family, if he were to take care of them, based on the facts that the people have proffered to this court,” the judge said.
Miranda remains jailed with his bail set at over $1 million as the murder case moves forward through Fresno County Superior Court.
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