Man accused in fatal knife attack has long criminal history

BOISE, Idaho — The man accused of stabbing a toddler to death and using a knife to injure eight other people Saturday has a background that includes sexual battery, assault, dealing drugs and spending time in a federal prison.

Timmy Kinner Jr., 30, who a prosecutor on Monday described as homeless, has known criminal records in Utah and Tennessee. Records show he was arrested as recently as April in Utah, spending three days in jail but his life of crime dates back more than a decade.

Kinner is accused of stabbing refugees gathered at a 3-year-old girl’s birthday party at an apartment complex. The apartment is home to many refugees and the victims were from Syria, Iraq and Ethiopia.

He was arraigned Monday afternoon before Judge Russell Comstock.

In his most recent arrest, Kinner’s victims included the 3year-old birthday girl who died, two 4-year-olds and children ages 6, 8 and 12, as well as three adults, police reported.

The knife police said Kinner used in the attack was a large, folding blade knife, according to Boise Police. It was found in the canal that runs just south of State Street when exiting the apartment complex on Wylie Lane.

In April, the St. George, Utah, Police Department arrested Kinner for misdemeanor theft. He was sentenced to three days in jail and 18 months of supervised probation. He was ordered to pay $700 in restitution. In Utah, his probation circumstances required that he keep the court advised of his current residence and to notify the court within 48 hours if he changed addresses.

Kinner is a convicted felon, which would have prohibited him from owning a firearm, but he has a history of illegally possessing weapons. His record also shows that he has a history of violating the terms of his supervised release.

In 2014: Kinner was charged with misdemeanor assault causing bodily harm in September, and one month later, he was charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure.

In 2013: Kinner was arrested in January for two counts of misdemeanor indecent exposure. In July, he was also charged with felony aggravated assault.

In 2012: He was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault and later with misdemeanor assault by offensive act and felony sexual battery. In November, he was charged with assault by bodily harm and assault by offensive contact, both misdemeanors.

If convicted, he faces up to life in prison or the death penalty.