05/19/09

It's never wise to drink and drive, but sometimes it's a good idea not to drink even if you're just sitting at home. Last night Twin Falls Police responded to a report of a stabbing at 402 Jackson Street. Police Spokesman Captain Matt Hicks said the incident involved people that he described as being between 65 and 70 years old and very intoxicated.

Hicks said the wife, her husband, and a brother-in-law had been getting into a series of arguments and the wife ended up using a steak knife to inflict a very small cut on the brother-in-law.

Hicks said no arrests were made, and the victim's injury required little more than a band-aid. Hicks said the trio had apparently been drinking for some time leading up to the confrontation.

In other court news, a Wendell man involved in a dispute in December last year learned his sentence. Miguel Cruz was charged with aggravated battery after a physical altercation that resulted in mans ear being bitten off. Cruz agreed to go with a plea deal with the prosecutors.

Judge Barry Wood modified Cruz's sentence slightly from what was recommended. Judge Wood imposed a180 day’s of discretionary jail time. He will have to pay close to 20-thousand dollars in restitution to the victim.

Meanwhile, almost three months ago the Idaho State Police served a search warrant at a house on 16th Street in Burley. 30 year old Robert Ray Hernandez of Burley was charged with felony drug trafficking, after he received in the mail a box containing 15 pounds of marijuana, which had a street value of roughly 30 thousand dollars.

District Judge Michael Crabtree says Hernandez will change his ‘not guilty' plea Wednesday morning at 11 am.

Defense attorney David Peña says, that Hernandez will plead guilty to a reduced charge, which will have a minimum prison term of one year, instead of the original minimum penalty of three years.