LAKEPORT ? A Clearlake man pleaded no contest Monday to assault with a knife and admitted he stabbed his 17-year-old friend when play fighting turned violent.
Joseph Dingess, 19, also admitted the special allegation was true that great bodily injury was inflicted. The charge and allegation carry a potential 7-year sentence in prison.
Judge Arthur Mann dismissed the remaining charges against Dingess, including attempted murder, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and battery causing serious bodily injury.
Dingess will return to court 8:15 a.m. April 19 for sentencing.
Dingess admitted he stabbed his friend Nov. 20 at his friend”s house on the 13000 block of Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake after they started roughhousing while playing video games. Clearlake police were flagged down and found a teenager with several chest and abdomen stab wounds, along with Dingess and his brother, Ryan Dingess.
Joseph Dingess told police three unknown suspects stabbed the victim, but through interviews detectives later determined Dingess was the suspect. Police arrested Dingess the next day.
The victim has since been released from the hospital where he was treated for his wounds, including a cut to his liver, the attorneys said.
Dingess originally pleaded not guilty to the charges Dec. 11.
He remains in custody at the Lake County Jail.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
