The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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June 19, 2009

Joplin man sentenced to seven years for 2008 stabbing



By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

Jasper County Circuit Judge David Mouton on Friday sentenced a Joplin man to seven years in prison in a stabbing attack on another Joplin man.

George W. Todd III, 19, of 1745 W. 23rd St., was sentenced after pleading guilty in March to felony second-degree assault in the knife attack.

Todd stabbed Jeremy A. Diaz, 22, with a butterfly knife on Sept. 29, 2008, during a fight outside Springview Garden Apartments at 1745 W. 23rd St. Diaz initially was listed in critical condition when he was taken to the hospital.

Mouton, in sentencing Todd, noted the seriousness of Diaz’s injuries after the attack. The judge said Diaz’s kidney had been lacerated, his lungs had to be drained of blood and his intestines were hanging outside of his abdomen when police arrived at the scene.

Mouton dismissed a felony charge of armed criminal action as a result of a plea agreement.

Public defender Charles Oppelt, who represented Todd, had requested his client receive probation with drug and alcohol treatment. Oppelt said Todd was heavily intoxicated when he attacked Diaz.

“He made a big mistake,” Oppelt said.

John Nicholas, assistant Jasper County prosecutor, had sought the seven-year sentence, which was the maximum allowed under the plea agreement. He said the violent nature of the attack should dictate the prison sentence.





Not on hand

Jeremy Diaz was not present for the sentencing hearing.

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