Linda man sentenced in knife attack

A Linda man charged in the assault of a woman in her bedroom with a butcher's knife was sentenced to prison Monday.

Yuba County Superior Court Judge James L. Curry sentenced Jason LaMonte Clifford, 36, to two years in prison for assaulting with a deadly weapon during an Aug. 6, 2005, domestic violence incident.

Clifford pleaded no contest on Dec. 9.

In exchange for his plea, the Yuba County District Attorney's office dropped other charges of committing a felony with a deadly weapon, making threats likely to produce death or great bodily injury and corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant.

The female victim, only identified as Marla, was on the phone in her roommate's room at their Yuba County residence setting up a date with her boyfriend, according to a probation report.

The victim disconnected the call when Clifford, a past boyfriend, entered the room. Clifford recognized the phone number on the phone screen. He left the room to go into the kitchen but returned with a butcher's knife in his left hand, the report stated.

“If David comes over, blood will be shed,” Clifford told the victim, according to the report.

The victim walked into her room, holding clothes in her hands as Clifford followed. He took clothes out of her hands, threw them in her face and struck her with a closed fist above the left eye, according to the report. The victim fell back into a closet.

As she rose, Clifford grabbed her by the hair and pushed her onto the bed. Clifford straddled the victim, put his hand over her mouth, held the knife to her throat and told her she could not leave him, the report stated.

The victim tried to hit Clifford in the face to get him off of her. Clifford climbed off when there was a knock at the front door, according to the report.

The victim ran out of the room yelling for her roommate to call 911. As she fled, Clifford threw a bowl of salsa at her and hit her, the report said.

Yuba County sheriff's deputies arrested Clifford later the same day on the 5100 block of Canal Street in Olivehurst.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Daniel Witter can be reached at 749-4712. You may e-mail him at dwitter@appeal-democrat.com.