Los Angeles Times

A 42-year-old man charged with murder in the May slaying of a Linda Vista woman has a previous murder conviction, court records show.

Douglas Hines Jr. of Spring Valley faces a preliminary hearing Aug. 2 in the May 1 death of Nita Nevarez, 57. He is also charged with robbing her and burglarizing her home.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Rupert Linley said Tuesday that Hines was paroled from a Texas prison in 1988. He had been serving a sentence stemming from a 1974 murder of an elderly woman. Hines was found guilty of murder with malice in Bear County, Tex., that same year.

The district attorney's office has filed special-circumstances allegations against Hines, which means he may face the death penalty or a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

One basis for the special circumstances sought by the district attorney is that Hines has a previous murder conviction. Two other grounds for the special circumstances allege that Hines killed Nevarez during a robbery and a burglary.

Hines had been living on Sweetwater Springs Boulevard before he was arrested June 18.

The district attorney's office says the motive for the killing appears to be theft, because Nevarez's television set, jewelry and a Social Security check were taken.

Hines was acquainted with Nevarez, Linley said.

"She was stabbed many times in the face, neck and chest," Linley said. The murder weapon has not been recovered.