Felon Who Stabbed Man In Southwest RivCo Convicted Of Assault With A Deadly Weapon

BANNING, CA — A probationer who stabbed a man during a confrontation in Lake Elsinore was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon by a jury Thursday, which also acquitted him of an attempted murder charge. Christopher David Smith, 38, is slated to be sentenced Oct. 26 for stabbing the victim, whose name was not released, after the men got into an argument on the morning of May 22 for undisclosed reasons.

Smith brandished a knife and plunged it into the man's left forearm, according to prosecutors, and was arrested shortly after the stabbing near the intersection of Buena Vista Street and Grand Avenue.

The defendant fled the scene as witnesses called 911, sheriff's Sgt. Joaquin Casanas said. Deputies arrived moments later and spotted him walking eastbound on Buena Vista, near Glenetta Way, where he was taken into custody without a struggle.

The victim was transported to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar, where he underwent surgery. He has since recovered.

Following a three-day trial in a Banning courtroom, jurors deliberated for about one day before returning their verdict, which included true findings that Smith inflicted great bodily injury and committed the stabbing with a deadly weapon.

According to court records, Smith, who is being held without bail, also has two prior convictions for receiving stolen property.

— By City News Service / Image via Riverside County Sheriff's Department