Man faces 20-year term for Belle Court stabbing

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

Shawn M. Banks, 30, was convicted Monday of malicious wounding and assault on a law enforcement officer in Culpeper County Circuit Court.

According to the commonwealth’s attorney’s office, the first charge stems from an incident July 26 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 an incident in November. While being held in 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 3 felony punishable by a period of up to 20 years in prison. Assault on a law enforcement officer is a Class 6 felony that gets up to five years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of six months.

“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 in both cases is set for Sept. 8 at 9:30 a.m. in Circuit Court. Banks remains held without bond.