Sepulveda Man Gets Life in Stabbing Attack
Jose A. Escalante was sentenced Thursday to life in prison plus one year for stabbing a man in the eye, leaving him blind and brain-damaged, over the victim’s refusal to loan Escalante a car.
A San Fernando Superior Court jury found Escalante, 27, of Sepulveda guilty of aggravated mayhem using a dangerous weapon and assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury.
Judge Howard J. Schwab sentenced Escalante to the maximum term. Escalante will not be eligible for parole for at least seven years, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Andrew Reed Flier. He said Escalante stabbed James Brooks, 34, of Reseda on Sept. 10 at Broadmoor Street and Columbus Avenue. “Apparently the defendant wanted to borrow the victim’s car and . . . he was refused,” Flier said.
Escalante chased Brooks until he fell. A group of Escalante’s friends beat Brooks and Escalante stabbed him in the right eye.
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