COLFAX, WA – The 39 year old Pullman man accused of trying to kill a Moscow man during a large fight at a local convenience store is going to prison.

Cesar Marmolejos pleaded guilty to felony 1st degree assault in Whitman County Superior Court Friday.  Marmolejos was previously charged with attempted 2nd degree murder.  Prosecutors agreed to drop the murder count in return for the guilty plea.

Marmolejos was arrested at the Sunset Mart on Bishop Boulevard in Pullman July 1st.  Pullman Police responded to a large fight at the store and discovered that a 22 year old Moscow man had been stabbed.  Marmolejos pleaded guilty to stabbing the victim with a large knife.  The man suffered a severed artery and was flown to a Spokane hospital where he underwent surgery.  Witnesses told police that Marmolejos was threatening to kill the victim.  The two were former friends but had gotten into a dispute that played out on social media prior to the stabbing.

Whitman County Superior Court Judge Roger Sandberg agreed with the sentencing recommendation from both the prosecution and the defense.  Marmolejos was sentenced by Judge Sandberg to nearly 8 years in prison and was placed on probation for 3 years.  The sentence is at the bottom of the standard range.  Senior Deputy Prosecutor Tessa Scholl told Judge Sandberg that the victim supports the plea deal and sentencing recommendation.  She added that the man has forgiven Marmolejos.  Marmolejos apologized to the victim during sentencing.

Judge Sandberg noted that the victim’s support of the resolution is what led to his decision to go with the low end sentence.