OGDEN – An Ogden man pleaded guilty Thursday to repeated stabbing of a man in the head with a metal spike in an attack doctors told police were fatal.
Ogden Police arrested Stephen R. Ramirez, 41, on April 29 after approaching the victim standing in line at a downtown grocery store.
Officials said the attack was not provoked, despite the pair’s previous clashes, according to indictment documents.
The video surveillance showed that Ramirez fell on the victim with a flapping motion on the head, holding a 10 cm thorn in his hand. Hospital staff reported to police that the victim suffered a broken nose, a facial fracture, a puncture that went through his ear canal to his nasal canal, and a second puncture from his ear canal to his neck. Hospital staff said the depth of the wounds could have resulted in more serious injury or death.
In a plea agreement introduced in the 2nd District Court on Thursday, Ramirez pleaded guilty to having committed grievous bodily harm of the third degree. In return, the district attorney’s office agreed to drop charges of using a dangerous weapon by a disabled person for a third-degree crime.
Prosecutors also agreed to recommend when sentenced that Ramirez be given a suspended rather than jail sentence. A third-degree crime conviction carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, but judges sometimes suspend the sentences and order a defendant to be given prison or suspended sentences.
The deal also says prosecutors will not oppose a reduction in the sentence if Ramirez successfully completes his probationary period.
Judge Michael DiReda scheduled the conviction on August 12th.
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