24-year prison sentence for Thanksgiving Day 2021 stabbing
A man charged with attempted murder has been sentenced, while another man accused of attacking police with a knife and bear spray has had charges filed against him.
Those were among the cases reviewed recently at the Marion County Judicial Center. Here's what we know:
State v. Rigoberto Torres-Garcia
Judge: Circuit Judge Robert Hodges.
Lawyers: Defense lawyer Frances Watson for the Public Defender's Office and Assistant State Attorney Adam Smith.
Charges: Attempted second-degree murder, robbery with firearm, felony flee or attempt to elude police/disregard for safety, no valid driver's license, and resist officer without violence.
When was Torres-Garcia in court? July 10.
Why? Pre-trial hearing.
What happened? Lawyers were able to negotiate a plea deal instead of going to trial the week of July 22.
Plea: No contest.
Sentence: 24 years in prison. He has 952 days of credit for time already served at the jail awaiting resolution of this case.
About the case: The 47-year-old man was arrested by sheriff's deputies in 2021 and accused of stabbing a man for his gold chain on Thanksgiving Day.
State v. David Raymond Laperriere
Defense lawyer: Evan Minton Gardiner of Smith & Eulo Law Firm in Gainesville. Originally, Laperriere was represented by the Public Defender's Office.
Judge: Circuit Judge Tim McCourt.
Reason for the hearing: Arraignment, where prosecutors officially announce charges.
Charges: Two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer and one count of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer.
Where's Laperriere now? At the Marion County Jail, where he's being held without bail.
What's next? Laperriere is expected to make a court appearance in October for a pre-trial hearing in front of McCourt.
About the case: The 23-year-old Dunnellon man was shot several times by Sgt. Sean Young of the Ocala Police Department in mid-May after charging at the officer armed with bear spray and a knife.
Happening in court: Ocala courts: Judge denies bail for boy, 14, charged with sex assault of woman, 91
Officers were unsuccessful in convincing Laperriere to put down the weapons. Laperriere was taken to The Vines, a mental health facility, because his mothers said he was crying and depressed. He ran away and police found him in the 5500 block of Southwest 27th Avenue, not far from the mental health facility.
The shooting is being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Man sentenced to 24-year prison term for stabbing on Thanksgiving 2021
