Woman takes plea in stabbing case

A Boulder woman accused of stabbing a man in the stomach last year has entered into a plea agreement and been given a deferred sentence.

Loulillian Watson, 20, pleaded guilty Thursday in Boulder District Court to second-degree assault.

As part of the plea agreement, Watson was sentenced to a twoyear deferred sentence, with two years of probation.

A deferred sentence means that if Watson completes the terms of her probation and avoids any new criminal charges, her guilty plea will be withdrawn and the charge will be dismissed.

Prosecutors dismissed the remaining charges, including first-degree assault. Watson had initially pleaded not guilty and was set for trial in April, but that trial was vacated following the plea.

Boulder Deputy District Attorney Allison Brand said the plea was “appropriate and just” given Watson’s lack of criminal history, age and willingness to take responsibility. Brand also noted the named victim in the case agreed with the resolution.

Defense attorney Jennifer Engelmann

also said the plea agreement was an appropriate resolution. “There was no desire of Ms. Watson to hurt (the victim) in the way that he was hurt, they were both pretty clear about that,” Engelmann said.

Engelmann said that Watson was unable to graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder despite being just a few credits short, but will transfer her probation to her home state of Mississippi and plans to finish her degree.

Watson, aside from asking a clarifying question about her probation, did not make any further statement in court. But Jason Savela of The Savela Law Firm PC, who is representing Watson in her CU Title IX Office of Institutional

Equity and Compliance proceedings, also issued a statement regarding the plea.

“Loulillian Watson recognizes that a jury could find her guilty, despite evidence of self-defense, defense of property, and accident,” Savela said in a statement. “If found guilty, she could spend many years in prison. Under the benefit of this plea bargain, Ms. Watson will not go to jail, can have her guilty plea withdrawn, the case dismissed and sealed. She made a very difficult choice.

“Ms. Watson hopes to complete her bachelor’s degree and earn a master’s degree so that she can help people in her home community.”