Johnathan Federico Hernandez is in custody at the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Public Safety Center, charged with the 2023 fatal stabbing of Dylan Dooling.
The 19-year-old Hernandez had been incarcerated at the California Training Facility in Soledad, since March 10, 2025, where he was serving a three-year sentence for robbing a Modesto gas station in January of that year. At the time, he was on probation for an unrelated offense.
Hernandez appeared in juvenile court Thursday – joining the proceedings remotely from the Public Safety Center – to hear the charges levied against him.
“This petition charges you with a single count, that on or about June 2, 2023, you committed a felony, that being murder, (and) that you willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously, with malice aforethought, murdered Dylan Dooling, a human being,” Rees read from court documents. “That count carries an enhancement that during the commission of the offense you personally used a dangerous weapon, to wit, a knife.”
The parties will be in court again on Oct. 8 to review the findings of a probation report that will help determine whether the suspect is tried as an adult or a juvenile – he was 16 when the incident occurred.
Hernandez did not enter a plea; a denial was entered on his behalf by his court-appointed attorney, Julissa Echevarria. He faces 16 years to life behind bars if convicted as an adult.
“Fifteen to life is the only sentence available by law if Hernandez pleads guilty or is found guilty by a jury,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Wendell Emerson. “The use of a knife adds an extra year to that.”
Hernandez wore a black-and-white striped jail jumper and had his long black hair pulled back in a ponytail. He quietly answered “yes” four times during the proceedings when asked by Judge Annette E. Rees about the spelling of his first and middle names, his date of birth, and whether he had voluntarily waived his right to attend the proceedings in person.
Emerson, Echevarria, and Turlock Police Department Detective Frank Navarro were in the courtroom, joining a probation officer, a member of the DA’s victim advocate unit, as well as Dooling's father, mother, and stepfather. No members of the defendant’s family were in attendance.
Hernandez was transferred to Stanislaus County on Tuesday evening and booked into the county jail. A warrant had been issued for his arrest on July 9 in the high-profile homicide that occurred less than 24 hours after the victim had graduated from Pitman High School.
Dooling was leaving a party in the 2000 block of North Daubenberger Road at around 10:45 p.m. when he was confronted by a group of males, according to Turlock PD. A fight broke out. The reason for that altercation remains unknown. Dooling was stabbed and the males fled. Friends of the victim called 911.
Officers arrived within minutes and found Dooling on the sidewalk. They immediately began administering first aid and CPR until personnel from Turlock Fire Department and American Medical Response arrived on the scene.
Dooling was transported to a local hospital but died about an hour later.
In March 2025, a bench at Ferreira Ranch Park in northeast Turlock was dedicated in honor of Dooling, who was two months shy of his 18th birthday when he was killed.
“You guys showing up keeps his memory so strong,” Dooling’s father, Joe Dooling, told supporters during the dedication ceremony. “We hope that you can continue to support us, because we will not stop until justice is brought.”
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact TPD Detective Frank Navarro at 209-664-7319.
