A Chula Vista man who stabbed his childhood friend 15 times during a long talk about the direction of the man’s life was sentenced Oct. 29 to five years in state prison.
A group of 21 people including the victim’s father watched the sentencing of Fabian Julian Rojas, 23, by Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Garry Haehnle. Probation was ruled out after Rojas pleaded guilty Sept. 5 to assault with a deadly weapon.
The 21-year-old victim didn’t attend the sentencing. Deputy District Attorney David McNees said “he’s lucky to be alive” after he was stabbed in the back, arms and legs. A lung was punctured during the April 17 incident at 11:52 p.m. in the 1300 block of Santa Cora Ave. in Chula Vista.
The victim attended the same church as Rojas and both families knew each other, said McNees afterward.
The prosecutor asked for seven years while Rojas’ attorney, Juliana Humphrey, sought the minimum five years.
“Fabian Rojas stabbed a good friend of his after drinking too much,” said Humphrey. “Scars heal, but emotional wounds go deeper.”
Humphrey said Rojas was remorseful and had no criminal record. She said he would have to serve 85 percent of the five-year term, and such a sentence is “a huge deterrent.”
Haehnle ordered Rojas not to contact the victim while in prison and to pay a $1,324 fine. He gave him credit for serving 389 days in jail.
The victim was hospitalized for three days, but has made a full recovery, according to McNees.
The victim told Chula Vista Police he and Rojas were talking about the direction of Rojas’ life when Rojas argued and then stabbed him repeatedly.
Someone called 911 and officers saw Rojas running away from the scene. He was caught after a short foot chase and was also arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance.
“It is a mystery,” said the judge as to the motive. “I can no way explain what happened that night.”
The judge dismissed an attempted murder charge after Rojas pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon.
