A jury Thursday afternoon began deliberating whether a Mill Creek man is guilty of first-degree assault for stabbing a police officer in the arm and inflicting nerve damage on Dec. 3.
His defense lawyer on Thursday conceded that Stephen Paul McClane, 35, committed less severe second-degree assault. The lawyer maintained that McClane did not intend to seriously harm the officer.
The Snohomish County Superior Court jury would have to find that McClane intended to cause severe bodily harm to convict him of first-degree assault.
The difference in penalty is significant.
A first-degree assault conviction could carry a penalty of up to 17 years in prison, while second-degree assault could net McClane a four-year term, lawyers said.
The assault occurred at a duplex on 132nd Street SE when McClane was at his brother’s home and his brother asked him to leave. When McClane didn’t, his brother called the police.
McClane also is charged with two counts of third-degree assault for battling with two other officers when they tried to remove him from the home.
McClane apparently thought he was going to be arrested when he pulled a knife and battled with the officers.
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