LAKEPORT ? A Clearlake man pleaded not guilty Friday to attempted murder in the stabbing of his childhood friend.
Joseph Dingess, 19, allegedly stabbed his 17-year-old friend during a physical altercation Nov. 20 at the victim”s house on the 13000 block of Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
Dingess is charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and battery causing serious bodily injury. Special allegations that great bodily injury was inflicted and personal use of a knife accompany the charges.
Dingess pleaded not guilty to all charges and allegations. He agreed to waive time.
The victim has since been released from the hospital, the attorneys said.
Defense attorney Thomas Quinn said the stabbing happened when “roughhousing got out of hand.”
“Frankly, I don”t know if this case is going to go to preliminary hearing,” Quinn said.
On. Nov. 20, someone flagged down a Clearlake Police Department sergeant at Redbud Park, police reported. Police found a teenager with several chest and back stab wounds, along with Dingess and his brother, Ryan Dingess.
Someone told police three unknown suspects stabbed the victim, but through interviews detectives later determined Joseph Dingess was the suspect. Police arrested Dingess the next day.
Dingess will return to court 3 p.m. Friday in Department 2.
Deputy District Attorney Sharon Lerman-Hubert said she would meet with Quinn before then to discuss the case.
Dingess remains in custody at the Lake County Jail with a $70,000 bail.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
