By Jorge Casuso

October 1, 2025 -- A homeless man charged in three racially motivated attacks in Santa Monica last year must stand trial after a California Appeals Court panel on Tuesday ruled his case did not qualify for a mental health diversion.

The unanimous ruling comes after the LA County District Attorney's office appealed a Superior Court decision allowing Job Uriah Taylor, 27, to enter a rehabilitation program instead of facing prosecution for assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder .

Each count included hate crime allegations against Taylor, who attacked the three black victims with a metal pipe, including 64-year-old Christian Hornburg, who suffered a traumatic brain injury.

In an 18-page ruling, the Appeals Court concluded that "no substantial evidence supports the (Superior) court’s implied finding that Taylor was suitable for mental health diversion, and its grant of diversion was thus an abuse of discretion."

Tuesday's ruling vacates an order issued on March 12 by Superior Court Judge Lana Kim granting Taylor entry into a two year diversion program that provides permanent supportive housing for mentally ill homeless incarcerated in LA County Jail.

The Appeals Court found there was no evidence that Taylor -- who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, exhibited symptoms of schizophrenia and has a history of violent behavior and drug use -- would not pose a danger if released.

"In sum, the (lower) court made no express finding that Taylor would not pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety if granted diversion," the three-justice panel wrote.

"On the contrary, substantial evidence either indicated or intimated that Taylor would likely abandon any mental health regimen if allowed to do so, with potentially catastrophic consequences."

In its ruling, the Appellate Court noted that Taylor's attacks in Santa Monica on March 3, 2024, came shortly after he was released from a psychiatric facility and failed to take his medications.

"Taylor attacked individuals for no reason other than the color of their skin," the Court wrote.

"Several were traumatized and two were hospitalized, including Hornburg, who was ambushed with a metal pipe and then stomped on as he lay helpless on the ground, suffering life altering injuries.

"This was not the first time Taylor attacked people with a metal pipe for no reason, and no evidence suggested it would be the last," the Court wrote.

Tuesday's unpublished ruling noted that Taylor spoke at the hearing and "apologized to the Black people in the room for his behavior on the day of the offenses."

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman issued the following statement after the ruling.

“Today’s decision is a victory for public safety and for the victims whose lives were forever changed by this defendant’s violent and hate-driven actions,” Hochman said.

"My office will continue to fight to ensure that those who commit brutal crimes face the full weight of justice in a courtroom.”