Painesville man sentenced for argument that got violent

It’s a fight Luis Graham said he wished never happened.

The 61-year-old Painesville man will serve one more day in prison (with 339 already served) and two years of community control for an April 6, 2018, argument that turned violent.

Chief Assistant Lake County Prosecutor Karen Kowall said

the argument started while Luis Graham was watching a Cleveland Cavaliers game and drinking alcohol with two other people. The disagreement escalated into a physical altercation and Graham took out a knife and stabbed the victim in several different areas on his body.

“I was in fear of my life but in hindsight I acted a little harshly,” Graham told Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge Eugene A. Lucci. “I acted in impulse. I don’t wish any harm on the individual I had an altercation with. I pray for him to recuperate. I’m desperately sorry for what I did.”

Graham, a U.S. Air Force Veteran, had no previous criminal history.

Lake County Public Defender Vanessa Clapp said jail was shocking to Graham at first, but he’s used it as an opportunity to reset his life. He has received mental health treatment for anxiety and PTSD, something he hopes continue receiving after he is released.

Clapp said Graham is deeply religious and takes part in Bible study with younger inmates.

“I can tell that every time I had gone to visit him, which has been a number of times this year, the corrections officers had made a point of indicating to me, that he was a good-hearted man and compassionate.”

Clapp said she thinks that led him to help another inmate who was attempting suicide.

“Mr. Graham came upon him, grabbed his legs and held onto him until help could arrive,” Clapp said.

Graham was originally charged with first-degree felony attempted murder and second-degree felony felonious assault. On the day before his trial was set to begin, Graham pleaded to third-degree felony attempted felonious assault.

“We believe the facts would show that Mr. Graham is guilty of the attempted felonious assault, that his conduct was excessive under the circumstances and we believe this plea to the felony of the third degree is appropriate under the facts of the case,” Kowall said at Graham’s Feb. 11 change of plea hearing.

Lucci said at Graham’s March 11 sentencing that he believed that Graham was genuinely remorseful. He set several conditions for Graham’s community control. Those include no contact with the victim, continue mental health care, and attend a minimum of two 12 step program meetings a week.

If Graham violates the terms of his community control, he could spend up to 3 years in prison.

Graham