A 53-year-old Californian man has been sentenced to nearly ten years in prison after a violent altercation on a hiking trail, where he stabbed an elderly man who had merely made eye contact with him.

On Monday, Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Tucker sentenced Jacob Ethan Masters to eight years in a state prison for the unprovoked attack. The sentencing took place after Masters entered a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, admitting guilt to one count of elder abuse resulting in significant bodily harm. This plea also included an enhancement for injuring someone over the age of 70. In return for his guilty plea, several charges, including attempted murder and resisting arrest, were dropped.

The Palm Springs Police Department issued a statement revealing that officers responded to a reported stabbing incident at approximately 2:40 p.m. on December 31, 2025. The incident occurred on the CV Link, a path designated for pedestrians and low-speed electric vehicles, located near Cathedral Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. The victim managed to call 911 and reported the attack had taken place around 11:30 a.m. that same day.

During a subsequent investigation, the victim recounted that while walking on the trail, he simply made eye contact with Masters as they passed each other, leading to the sudden assault.

In an interview with investigators, the victim said he was walking on the hiking trail when he “made eye contact with a man on the trail as they passed.”

“The victim said that about 15 minutes later, as he headed toward home, the suspect was still in the area,” the release states. “The suspect reportedly put on a ski mask, approached while yelling profanities, and assaulted the victim, knocking him to the ground. The victim fought back, and the suspect fled on foot. After the altercation, the victim learned he had been stabbed.”

The victim was treated at a Coachella Valley hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and was later released.

Evidence collected, including witness statements and a 1.5-second video clip appearing to show the assailant, led detectives to identify Masters, of Palm Springs, as the primary suspect.

On Jan. 11, officers located Masters in the 5600 block of E. Ramon Road. When officers attempted to detain him, Masters fled the area on foot and was apprehended following a brief chase. He was then transported and booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility.