The Times-News
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — An 18-year-old woman was sentenced Tuesday to two years of supervised probation for her part in an Oct. 28 party stabbing that left her and a man hospitalized.
Jennifer Gray, of Buhl, originally was charged with felony battery with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit battery with a deadly weapon. She pleaded guilty April 23 to an amended charge of battery.
Defense Attorney Matt Pember said she had hit a rough patch in her life when she didn’t try to stop the fight at the party.
Her brother, Nicholas Gray, 20, was sentenced March 11 to up to 11 years in prison after admitting to stabbing and severely injuring Orlando Ramirez, 18, as revenge for Ramirez having hit his sister.
Ramirez said the blow to the then-17-year-old girl was an accident, as he was trying to hit someone standing next to her.
Jennifer again was in the wrong place at the wrong time when she was hit in the head with a rock someone threw during the fight. She was severely injured and flown by air ambulance to Boise.
Since then, she has received straight “As” in school and has been flying straight, Pember said.
“Maybe the rock knocked a little sense into her,” he said Tuesday.
Twin Falls County Magistrage Judge Calvin Campbell sentenced Jennifer to two years of supervised probation and 180 days in jail, with 177 suspended and credit given for time already served.
Roberto Garza, 20, and Jeffrey Allred, 23, were found guilty in March of charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. They had come to the party with Nicholas Gray intending to harm Ramirez.
Both were sent to prison, but Twin Falls County District Judge Richard Bevan maintained jurisdiction and recommended they attend a conflict resolution program run by the Idaho Department of Correction.
One 17-year-old boy involved also was sentenced to a program but could serve two to 10 years in prison if he does not meet conditions.
Another 17-year-old boy was sentenced to three years’ probation but could face two to seven years in prison under the judge’s jurisdiction.
Because most of the other defendants are in prison, the brunt of more than $22,000 in victim restitution will fall on Jennifer, Pember said.
Campbell said she should work with her probation officer to determine how much she can pay. “Do the best you can,” he said.
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