02/18/09

A Mini-Cassia man charged in the stabbing death of a man from Burley was in court Wednesday to change his plea.

20 year old Christopher Foss said that on September 6th of last year - he stabbed 24 year old Alex Rauh with a knife, at the Sawtooth Village Apartments in Burley. Rauh died of his stab wounds.

Foss was on probation for aggravated battery at the time of the stabbing. He's previously been convicted of charges in Minidoka and Cassia counties - including battery, assault, and contempt of court.

Wednesday, Foss pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and use of a deadly weapon.

Prosecutor Blaine Cannon offered to ask for a total of 30 years in prison for Foss, 14 fixed, 16 indeterminate.

5th District Judge Michael Crabtree addressed foss and asked: Mr. Foss, to count one, a felony offense of voluntary manslaughter, how do you plead?"

Foss: Guilty.

Crabtree: “To count two, the enhanced penalty for the use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a crime of voluntary manslaughter, how do you plead? "

Foss: Guilty.

As part of the plea bargain, the prosecutor dropped Foss’s charge of injury to a jail in Cassia County in late December. Foss will be sentenced at 1:30 pm on April 21st.