Maimed lawmaker downplays heroism
Fighting off a jealous assailant two years ago, state Rep. Jason Lowe lost part of his right ear but probably saved a woman's life.
"I don't consider myself a hero or anything. I'm just happy I was there to prevent a death," Lowe said Friday after the assailant was sentenced.
Oklahoma County District Judge Cindy Truong ordered Isaiah Dorsey to serve 25 years in prison for the attack on an ex-girlfriend and Lowe at a Del City home.
The judge also ordered Dorsey to pay $70,000 in restitution to Lowe for his out-of-pocket medical expenses to have the top of his right ear reattached.
She ordered Dorsey to pay $1,775 to the female victim, Ternassia Doakes, for repairs to her home and additional security.
Dorsey, 37, of Edmond, asked for probation, telling the judge he was not a menace to the community.
He claimed he was just trying to scare the two when he showed up at the home with an air pistol, a knife, a can of gasoline and zip ties.
"I made a bad error in judgment, your honor, but that's not really who I am," Dorsey said.
Dorsey turned in court first toward his wife and family members to apologize to them. Dorsey then looked at Lowe and apologized to him.
Dorsey pleaded guilty in September to almost a dozen offenses, including assault with a dangerous weapon, burglary, kidnapping and maiming.
The attack came late Nov. 13, 2016, days after Lowe won election to the House District 97 seat.
He was visiting Doakes, a friend and campaign supporter, at her home. Dorsey had shown up uninvited hours earlier and been told to leave.
The female victim described Dorsey as "her ex-boyfriend from approximately one year ago," police reported in 2016. Dorsey, though, claimed he and the woman were still in a relationship at the time and he became "pretty heated" to find Lowe at her home.
In testimony at a bail hearing last year, the legislator said Dorsey pointed the pistol at them after returning to the home and "indicated he would kill me."
He testified he defended himself, keeping his assailant from getting to a knife.
"We struggled. He bit my ear. I picked him up. I slammed him on the bathroom floor and then I started striking him," Lowe testified.
Police arrested Dorsey as he came out the front door.
A prosecutor told the judge Friday that Dorsey brought "a murder kit" to the home. Lowe told the judge Friday he had never seen Dorsey before.
"I believe he would have killed her if I was not present that night," he also told the judge.
Lowe, a criminal defense attorney, approached The Oklahoman after the sentencing and questioned if what had happened was newsworthy.
Lowe, an Oklahoma City Democrat, soon will begin his second term in the Legislature. He did not draw an opponent this year.
He said his ear is fine now, and he lost contact with his friend because of the incident. He said the two were not dating at the time.
"I'm just glad I was there. It would have been a different situation if I wasn't," he told The Oklahoman.