Accused Lake Street stabber has new lawyer

Michael Stevens appeared in Madison County Court again on Friday with attorney John Raspante.

WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. >> Proceedings in the case of Michael Stevens, the Oneida City man accused of stabbing his then-girlfriend more than 14 times in July 2016, continued during a Friday hearing in front of Judge Patrick O’Sullivan.

At his last hearing, Stevens requested a new attorney, citing his desire for a lawyer willing to spend more time with him on the case. Richard Marris, his attorney at that time, was agreeable to Stevens’ request and because the parting was mutual, O’Sullivan agreed to assign a new public defender.

Friday, John Raspante served as Stevens’ lawyer, agreeing to a timeline set forth by O’Sullivan to resume regular proceedings. O’Sullivan made it clear that he wants to make sure Raspante is acquainted with the “somewhat unique facts of the case”

before matters continue any further.

“I do not want to in any way impede representation by Mr. Raspante,” O’Sullivan said before setting an April 7 deadline for any supplemental motions by Raspante. In turn, the prosecution has until April 14 to respond before all parties reconvene on April 26.

Prior to Marris, Stevens was represented by public defender William Roth, who in September requested to be relieved from his duties in defending the Oneida City man.

At that time, District Attorney Bill Gabor, who did not oppose the request, said Roth raised “ethical concerns” about his role as counsel and wanted to ensure his client had “proper and complete representation.”

Stevens, 36, is accused of stabbing his girlfriend more than 14 times at his North Lake Street home on July 15, as well as robbing another man.

While behind bars, police say he tried to get other people to kill both his girlfriend and the robbery victim. Stevens recently rejected a plea deal in the stabbing case.

The grand jury has indicted Stevens on the following counts:

• Second- degree attempted murder, a class B felony;

•First- degree assault, a class B felony;

• Second- degree assault, a class D felony;

•Third-degree robbery, a class D felony;

•Third- degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class D felony;

•Second- degree criminal solicitation, a class D felony;

•Three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor;

• Obs t r uc t i on of breathing, a class A misdemeanor;

• Second- degree harassment.

Michael Stevens