22-year-old who stabbed man in argument sentenced to four years of probation
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IDAHO FALLS — A 22-year-old man who was arrested in January after stabbing a man has been sentenced to four years of probation.
Dallas Jack Jensen of Idaho Falls was charged with felony aggravated battery but accepted a plea agreement in February.
In exchange for a guilty plea, the charge was amended to felony aggravated assault.
Jensen stabbed a relative’s boyfriend during an argument in a kitchen in January. The victim said he didn’t realize he had been stabbed until after the fight was over. The stab wound was 1 to 1.5 inches long and required four staples.
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According to the plea agreement, the state recommended a suspended sentence and placed Jensen on probation.
Those charged with aggravated assault face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Jensen was sentenced on May 28 and appeared before Senior District Judge Alan Stephens.
No victim impact statement was given during Jensen’s sentencing.
The 22-year-old’s attorney, Jason Gustaves, told Stephens that Jensen was young and had a limited criminal history.
Jensen was on probation a few years ago for a prior incident, and Gustaves said in that crime, alcohol was a factor.
“It is apparent that for him, alcohol is a problem, if not for the causation of the actions that we’re here for,” Gustaves said.
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Gustaves said this felony conviction is the first for his client, as in the prior incident, he was convicted on misdemeanor charges.
During the pre-sentence investigation, an overview of Jensen’s past and recommendations for sentencing, Gustaves said his client had received numerous letters in support. His attorney said the letters state Jensen was a “pretty good kid that likes to help out family and be responsible.”
Gustaves said since Jensen’s arrest, the 22-year-old has sought outpatient treatment, obtained his GED and was working until an injury occurred in April.
“This incident is unfortunate, and it’s regrettable for Dallas. … However, he recognizes his part in it, takes responsibility and asks the court to consider his contrition,” Gustaves said.
Gustaves then recommended a sentence of one year fixed and three years indeterminate and place Jensen on four years of probation.
Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lou Harris stated that while Jensen’s recidivism rate (the likelihood of reoffending) places him at a moderate level, the 22-year-old acknowledges the potential severity of this incident.
“Unfortunately, he doesn’t even recall exactly how that went, but he does recognize the seriousness where he found himself,” Harris said. “Although he doesn’t agree with the law enforcement’s version of events, he acknowledges he was intoxicated.”
Harris said Jensen has had an issue with alcohol since he first started drinking at the age of 17. However, he did note that Jensen does have support from family and friends, which means that if he were placed on supervision, he’d have that support.
Harris recommended a sentence of two years fixed and three years indeterminate, with a four years of probation.
Before Stephens sentenced Jensen, the 22-year-old said that he understood the seriousness of the crime he had committed and that alcohol had been an issue.
“I have made the steps to change and better myself for the future by going to treatment and taking it seriously,” Jensen said. “(I) just would like to apologize to the victim too and the courts for using their time when it could have been spent somewhere else.”
Stephens said the pre-sentence investigation recommends that Jensen get substance abuse treatment and anger management classes. Stephens agreed with the investigation and ordered Jensen to get these.
For Jensen’s sentence, Stephen said he would suspend the two-year fixed and the three-year indeterminate sentence and place him on probation for four years.
Jensen will also be required to serve 100 hours of community service and be employed full-time. He was also given 180 days of discretionary jail time, meaning his probation officer could impose that term if warranted.
Stephens told Jensen that young men often don’t understand the consequences of their actions but hopes this will be a wake-up call for him.
“What you originally charged with, if you were convicted or pled guilty to that, you could have gone to prison for a long time, and you dodged a bullet pretty well that nobody was seriously hurt or killed,” Stephens said.