Court finds man guilty of stabbing woman

A Culpeper man may face more than 20 years in prison for a stabbing a woman and spitting on a jailor last year.

Shawn M. Banks, 30, was convicted of malicious wounding and assault on a law enforcement officer in Circuit Court on Monday by Judge Jack Berry.

According to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, the first charge stems from a July 26, 2008 incident at a Belle Court apartment.

Prosecutors say that when police arrived, an officer found a woman bleeding and lying on her stomach in a bedroom. The victim told police that as she was sitting at the dining room table, Banks stabbed her in the back without warning. A witness at the apartment also testified that she saw Banks holding a knife and observed the victim bleeding from the back.

Banks was arrested at the scene without further incident. The stabbing victim was hospitalized for nine days in a Charlottesville hospital with rib and lung injuries.

The second charge stems from a November incident. While being held in the Culpeper County Jail, authorities say Banks spit on a deputy who had come to check on him after a surveillance camera in the jail malfunctioned.

Malicious wounding is a class three felony punishable by a period of up to 20 years in prison. Assault on a law enforcement officer is a class six felony punishable by up to five years in prison. The charge also carries a mandatory minimum of six months in prison.

“The Culpeper Police Department did a good job of clearing the scene, apprehending the suspect and securing the evidence,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Gary Close said. “We plan to ask the court to impose a harsh sentence because the defendant used a weapon.”

Sentencing on both matters is set for September 8 at 9:30 a.m. in Circuit Court. Banks remains held without bond.