Dexter Daily Statesman: Local News: Stabbing suspect sentenced to prison (02/08/08)

BLOOMFIELD -- A Dexter man who pleaded guilty to the Class C felony of second-degree assault for his part in the stabbing of another Dexter man has been sentenced to a prison term.

According to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn, 27-year-old Michael Atkins was sentenced to five years' in the Missouri Department of Corrections on the reduced charge Wednesday in a sentencing hearing before Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen R. Sharp.

He was previously charged with the Class A felony first-degree armed criminal action and the Class A felony unlawful use of a weapon.

Charges against Atkins stem from an altercation in which another Dexter man was stabbed in early December. The stabbing took place in the 400 block of North Poplar Street in Dexter.

According to Dexter Police Detective Corey Mills' report, several Dexter officers responded to the residence to find Joseph Helton, 23, lying on the carport of the residence in a pool of blood. Helton was unresponsive at that time, according to the report, and an "excessive amount of blood was noted on Helton's shirt and pants.

"A puncture wound was observed on Helton's left chest, which is consistent with a knife wound," Mills' report states. "Helton was transported by Stoddard County Ambulance to Missouri Southern Healthcare for treatment and was later flown to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, where he was placed in ICU.

"During Atkins' interview, Atkins admitted to stabbing Helton once in the chest with his pocket knife during a brief altercation," the report went on to say. "Atkins admitted he fled the scene and later responded to his residence."

Mills then stated that Atkins allegedly admitted he left the knife he used to stab Helton lying next to a tree on his property, where detectives were later able to recover the weapon with blood on the knife blade.

According to witnesses, the two men had a minor argument inside the home, at which time Atkins attempted to leave the residence.

Witnesses then said that Helton followed Atkins outside and that is when the stabbing occurred.

Helton remain in intensive care for more than a week following the stabbing. He eventually recovered and was released from the hospital. He is expected to recover fully from his injuries, according to Dexter Police Detective Lt. Trevor Pulley.

Sacha Champion may be reached via e-mail at schampion@dailystatesman.com