Stateline man sent to prison in stabbing

Citing the danger of violence and a failure on other probation, Judge Michael Gibbons sentenced a Stateline man to three years in prison for attempted battery with a deadly weapon.

Adam Hernandez, 25, will be eligible for parole after a year in connection with an Oct. 28 incident in which he slashed another man with a knife at a Stateline party.

"I would like to say I'm sorry for my actions," Hernandez told Gibbons before sentencing. "I'd just like the chance to get some help and move forward with my life."

Hernandez faced up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to the charge on Dec. 21. Prosecutors asked that he be given the maximum.

"The defendant was given an opportunity to show he was a good candidate for probation and he didn't," Prosecutor Laurie Trotter said. "This is a violent crime and he's a threat to the community."

Defense attorney Kris Brown said Hernandez felt threatened and pulled out the knife after watching a friend get beaten severely in a "Fight Club" style match.

"The victim didn't suffer severe injuries," she said. "Mr. Hernandez had been drinking, but he was not looking for revenge, he was reacting and acting."

Hernandez was on house arrest from just after the incident until Dec. 24. Four days before his hearing on Monday, he was taken into custody for drinking while out on bail.

Brown said she'd told him the prosecution and parole and probation were recommending he go to prison the day before he violated his bail conditions.,

Gibbons agreed with the prosecution about the seriousness of the offense, but not the severity of the crime.

"Your behavior after I took you off house arrest leads me to believe you're not a good candidate for probation," Gibbons said. "But the recommended sentence is too severe."

Hernandez received 61 days counted as timed served.