Breaking: Panhandler gets two years in fatal stabbing on Hollywood Walk of Fame
A homeless man who was involved in the fatal stabbing of a Lynwood woman last year on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been sentenced to two years in prison.
Jason Joel Wolstone, 34, pleaded guilty to assault likely to produce great bodily harm Wednesday in connection with the June 18 attack off Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.
During the attack, Wolstone pushed 23-year-old Christine Calderon then put her in a headlock after she refused to give him and a second homeless man a dollar for taking their picture as they held up signs asking for money that included profanity.
Prosecutors say that while Wolstone had Calderon in a headlock, Dustin James Kinnear, 27, fatally stabbed her in the abdomen.
Kinnear has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. A third man, Brian Joseph Widdows, is charged as an accessory after the fact.
The attack in the heart of Hollywood’s tourist district triggered calls for action, which led police to ramp up patrols in the area and crack down on aggressive panhandling.
We “don’t want to lose any of the ground that’s been gained in Hollywood,” police Chief Charlie Beck said after the attack. “The whole area has changed for the better, but all of that can be in jeopardy if you don’t remain vigilant and set strong standards for behavior.”
Twitter: @josephserna
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