After 30 Years on San Quentin Death Row, Man Faces New Trial For 1988 Pasadena Murder

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Friday at the Pasadena Courthouse for Ronald Anthony Jones, who is facing a new trial after his conviction and death sentence were overturned in a 1988 Pasadena murder case.

Jones was initially sentenced to death for the kidnapping, rape and fatal shooting of Lois Anne Haro, who had been shopping at a Pasadena mall in 1988.

Last year, a federal judge vacated Jones’ conviction and death sentence, ruling that there was race-based discrimination in jury selection during his 1991 trial.

The judge found that the jury selection process was tainted by racial bias against Black jurors, violating Jones’ constitutional rights to a fair trial and due process. As a result, the judge determined that Jones was entitled to a new trial.

Jones, now 55, spent over 30 years on death row at San Quentin State Prison before his conviction was overturned. He is currently being held without bail in Los Angeles County Jail awaiting his new trial.

The pretrial hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday in Department C at the Pasadena Courthouse, located at 300 E. Walnut St. The hearing will deal with preliminary motions and evidence related to the upcoming retrial.