Mason City man sentenced to five years in prison for stabbing

MASON CITY — A Mason City man charged in a stabbing incident who later entered an Alford plea to a lesser charge is heading to prison.

45-year-old Elgin Richmond was accused of being in an argument with another person on July 7th of last year in the 1300 block of North Federal, with the dispute turning into a physical altercation involving weapons. Richmond was accused of rushing at the victim with a knife while the victim was defending himself with a crowbar. Police said the victim was stabbed in the neck and the middle portion of his back.

Richmond was charged with willful injury causing serious injury, a Class C felony, but last month entered an Alford plea to the lesser charge of willful injury, a Class D felony. With an Alford plea, a person does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a likely conviction.

District Judge DeDra Schroeder sentenced Richmond on Wednesday to five years in prison