A 73-year-old Pasadena man is scheduled in court today for arraignment on attempted murder and animal cruelty charges, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Deputy District Attorney Ryan Erlich said Lance Anthony Semkus (dob 7/30/44) faces one felony count each of willful, deliberate and premeditated attempted murder, mayhem, attempted seconddegree robbery and two counts of cruelty to an animal.

The charges include allegations of great bodily injury and use of a knife.

Arraignment is scheduled in Department D of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pasadena Branch. Case GA102199 was filed on Oct. 26.

Semkus is charged with attempting to steal a woman's dog in front of a pet store on Oct. 23. Later on the same day, the defendant allegedly approached another woman and slashed her throat, the prosecutor said. The woman fought him off but is alleged to have suffered severe injuries to her neck and hand, the prosecutor added.

Investigators later discovered Semkus' two dogs had been killed, the prosecutor said.

If convicted as charged, Semkus faces a possible maximum sentence of more than 32 years to life in state prison. Bail is set at $10 million.

The case remains under investigation by the Pasadena Police Department.

Los Angeles District Attorney / Case GA102199 / October 30, 2017