Woman charged with bringing knife into courtroom

The woman who authorities say stabbed herself in the abdomen with a kitchen knife during a preliminary hearing in district court is being charged with bringing the weapon into the courtroom, according to the Northampton County district attorney’s office.

Sonsorrae Barrett, 59, of the 200 block of Koury Place in Easton, is facing charges of possession of a weapon and obstructing the administration of law.

“This situation could have resulted in a far worse outcome,” District Attorney Terry Houck said Thursday. “We need to use this incident as a wake-up call for our constables and sheriffs to remain vigilant to the possibilities of weapons illegally entering our county and state facilities.”

Signs posted around the courtroom forbid any firearm or dangerous weapon from being brought into the courtroom, though there are no metal detectors or authorities who scan visitors. Houck said be believes security measures at the courtrooms should be increased, but said the matter is up to Northampton County court officials, not the district attorney’s office.

On Feb. 11, Barrett was in District Judge Robert Hawke’s courtroom in Lehigh Township for a preliminary hearing related to charges alleging she drove while intoxicated and badly injured her passenger. Authorities said Barrett violated conditions of her bail, and Hawke raised the amount she would need to stay out of jail.

Following the hearing, police heard Barrett allegedly scream, “I’m not going to jail!” and an officer in the courtroom looked over to see a constable fighting to restrain her.

Police went to help the constable and found a bloodied 7-inch kitchen knife on the floor. Constables told police that Barrett stabbed herself twice in the abdomen, records say.

One of the constables pulled the blade from her body and was trying to control the bleeding.

Hawke helped place Barrett on oxygen while the constables kept pressure on her wounds as they waited for EMS to arrive. She was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest for treatment.

Police reviewed video from inside the courtroom to confirm that Barrett pulled the weapon out of her clothing and then thrust it twice into her abdomen.

Barrett’s bail was set at $8,000, and records indicate she is being kept at Northampton County Jail.

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