A Vancouver man who stabbed a man in September at a gas station in Vancouver’s Lincoln neighborhood was sentenced Tuesday to six months in jail.
James E. Lopez, 34, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree assault in Clark County Superior Court.
Vancouver police responded at 10:30 p.m. Sept. 19 to the Chevron at 3901 Main St. for a report of an assault with a weapon. A man had been stabbed in the shoulder, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
The assailant fled before police arrived, and an initial search using a police canine was unsuccessful. Officers determined the victim suffered a stab wound to his back on the upper left side, and he was taken to a hospital to receive stitches, the affidavit says.
A witness across the street heard that a man with facial tattoos and wearing a red shirt committed the stabbing. He told officers the suspect was likely Lopez and showed them Lopez’s Facebook account, according to the affidavit.
While at the hospital, the victim also identified Lopez as his attacker from a photo lineup, the affidavit says.
With the help of Clark County sheriff’s deputies, officers tracked Lopez to an apartment a few blocks away from the gas station. He was seen with a woman in one of the building’s upstairs windows. Law enforcement surrounded the building and called the woman, who told them Lopez was inside and armed with a knife, according to the affidavit.
A negotiator got on the phone with Lopez, who agreed to come outside. During a police interview, Lopez admitted to arguing with someone at the gas station. He denied stabbing the man despite being shown video evidence, the affidavit says.
On Tuesday, Judge Jennifer Snider asked Lopez if he knew the victim, to which he replied they were friends.
Lopez has already served 128 days, according to the prosecution. In addition to jail time, he will serve 12 months of community custody and must undergo an anger management evaluation.
