A 19-year-old man who stabbed a man six times in Pacific Beach was sentenced Wednesday to a year in jail, but was allowed to leave early if a vacancy opens up in a drug treatment facility.
Anthony Rossie Valenzuela was placed on three years probation by San Diego Superior Court Judge Polly Shamoon and ordered to pay $180 a month in medical expenses to the victim.
“You were inches away from killing someone,” said
Shamoon. “It took 41 staples to put him back together.”
The victim was Daniel Garcia, 31, who testified June 27 he was stabbed five times in the back and once in the wrist. Garcia met Valenzuela and his younger brother on the trolley and the incident was drug related.
“It was poor decision on his part, driven by drugs,” said his attorney Brian McNeil. “He felt he had to protect his younger brother.”
McNeil told the judge the victim was trying to take advantage of him. He said Valenzuela was willing to comply with all the conditions of probation.
“I don’t think Anthony’s going to let us down,” said McNeil.
Shamoon at first ruled that Valenzuela must serve 280 days in jail before being released to a drug treatment program. His attorney noted that since he now has served 230 days with good conduct credits, he asked if Valenzuela could be released sooner.
Shamoon ruled that if a vacancy opens up sooner, he could leave jail to join the program. If there are no vacancies, he remains in jail up to one year.
Valenzuela pleaded guilty Oct. 2 to assault with a deadly weapon, and an attempted murder charge was dropped in the March 16 incident in the 1100 block of Thomas Avenue around 3:30 p.m.
Garcia said the three of them were walking near a carport when Valenzuela talked to him about buying a drug. Police officers arrested Valenzuela at Thomas Avenue and Mission Boulevard. Garcia was taken to a hospital.