The accused casino stabber pleaded not guilty and was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Joseph Naugle, 22, appeared in a Placer County courtroom Wednesday dressed in an orange T-shirt and orange-and-white-striped pants as his lawyer requested the mental-health review. The Roseville resident is facing multiple charges stemming from the alleged attack at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln last week, and he is due back in court on September 2.
The psychiatric evaluation will determine whether Naugle is mentally fit to stand trial, a key step before any criminal proceedings can move forward. His attorney made the request during the brief hearing where Naugle also entered his not guilty plea to attempted murder charges.
In the viral moment that shocked gamblers and staff alike, the casino mayhem unfolded last Wednesday night when Naugle, a kitchen worker at Dos Coyotes inside the casino, allegedly knifed his fellow employees in the eatery’s kitchen area. Shocked gamblers looked on in horror as bloodied victims spilled out of the restaurant and onto the casino floor. A caller reported the incident to police, who arrived within minutes and immediately took Naugle into custody. One victim was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the four others were treated at the scene by emergency personnel. The hospitalized victim was released hours later after receiving emergency treatment.
Naugle was still dressed in his kitchen apron when he was arrested. The 22-year-old is a resident of nearby Roseville and graduated from a local high school in 2022. The motive behind Naugle’s alleged slashing spree is still being investigated by authorities.
The Dos Coyotes restaurant, where Naugle worked alongside his alleged victims, is a casual dining spot located within the sprawling Thunder Valley Casino Resort complex. The kitchen area where the attack occurred is typically separated from public view, but the violence quickly spilled into spaces visible to casino patrons.
Naugle is due back in court on September 2.