EVERETT — A man who left his roommate with about 30 stab wounds last April has been sentenced to nearly eight years in prison.
Anthony Garcia, 21, pleaded guilty last week to first-degree assault, according to documents filed in Snohomish County Superior Court.
At the time of the attack, Garcia lived with his father and their 62-year-old roommate in the 300 block of Bedrock Drive in Everett.
Just before 10 p.m. on April 15, Garcia’s father and the victim were eating pizza and watching TV when Garcia asked for a ride to the store, according to police reports. His father said no, and after asking a few more times Garcia briefly left the house.
When he returned, he reportedly had a kitchen knife and began to stab the victim from behind as he sat in a reclining chair, according to court records.
Garcia, who is described as 6 feet tall and 130 pounds, was tackled by his father. During the struggle, the wounded man was able to flee. Eventually, the assailant escaped too.
The victim went to a neighbor’s house. Police arrived to find the man lying near the front door.
When asked where his wounds were, he reportedly replied, “Everywhere … I’m going to die.”
Later the father told police Garcia had been diagnosed with a mental illness, though the father could not remember what it was called. He said his son had recently stopped taking medication.
A forensic mental health report later revealed Garcia had a provisional diagnosis — that is, a doctor’s “strong presumption” — of schizophrenia.
Garcia was arrested that night. Once he was in custody he began to take medication again. He was found to not be competent to help in his criminal defense.
He underwent inpatient treatment at Western State Hospital and in December was deemed competent to stand trial.
He plead guilty March 11. His sentence of 7¾ years was on the lower end of the standard range set by state sentencing guidelines.
Once he is released, he’ll be monitored through three years of community custody. He can never have contact with the victim again.
Garcia has no other felony convictions.
Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.
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