FIRST ON FOX: A Los Angeles man who received no jail time and mental health diversion for a 2021 stabbing that nearly killed a construction worker is now charged with the murder of his neighbor.
Stefen Sutherland, 31, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon in November 2020 after slashing a construction worker’s neck because he was making noise, according to law enforcement sources.
A Los Angeles probation official warned that there was a risk of further violence and asked a judge to put him in prison. But District Attorney George Gascon’s office sought mental health diversion instead for the crime, which critics say was under-charged to begin with as an assault rather than attempted murder.
On May 23, Sutherland allegedly shot Jennifer Gomez 19 times in her home. The two had previously clashed over noise complaints, according to sources close to the investigation.
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In a statement, Gascon’s office defended the suspect’s slap on the wrist after the stabbing.
“The defendant in this case met the specific eligibility criteria for mental health diversion,” a spokesman for Gascon said in a statement. “A court-appointed psychologist deemed him suitable for the treatment program, and our deputy district attorney agreed to the defense request for mental health diversion.Â
“The court approved the treatment plan and deemed the defendant safe for community treatment. The defendant participated for nearly two years in [the] treatment program without issue. We are saddened by the most recent allegations, and our hearts go out to the victim and those who loved them.”
Gomez’s parents set up a GoFundMe to help with her funeral expenses but have raised just over $300.
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Sutherland could have faced an attempted murder charge, according to deputy district attorneys from within Gascon’s office.
“One of the things Gascon does is…
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