A Northampton County judge rejected a plea deal for a man charged with a stabbing in a Bethlehem district court parking lot.
Oscar Turner agreed to plead guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and take a four-and-a-half- to nine-year prison sentence.
But Judge Michael Koury felt that wasn’t enough time for a crime that significant.
The victim spent a week in the hospital after he was stabbed in the sternum, according to Assistant District Attorney Mark Spross.
“It could have been a murder case had the victim died,” Koury said. “That’s why I’m hesitating to accept the deal.”
Spross said the 32-year-old Allentown man stabbed Tiffone Porter early May 15 in the parking lot of District Judge Nancy Matos Gonzalez. Porter was trying to break up a fight between two women that started at the Tally Ho Tavern across the street, Spross said.
Defense attorney Anthony Rybak described the fight as a melee during which Turner was arguably defending himself. Porter had no weapon during the fight but someone involved was wielding a broken bottle, Spross said.
Prosecutors have a surveillance video. Rybak said Lehigh University police have a second video he hasn’t seen that could bolster his client’s self-defense claim.
He said he and Spross disagree on whether a robbery Turner committed as a juvenile should count against his criminal record for sentencing purposes.
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Despite these disputed points, Rybak recommended Turner take the deal.
“He understands this is going to be a state sentence,” Rybak said. “He wants to begin that.”
Koury rejected the deal to give Rybak time to view the video and for the attorneys to come to grips with the dispute over Turner’s criminal record.
If the case goes to trial it will be handled by a different prosecutor. Today was Spross’ last day on the district attorney’s staff.
Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
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