City man charged with stabbing man during street fight has case proceed to county court
A Lancaster city man charged with stabbing and severely injuring a man during a street fight will have his case proceed to county court following a preliminary hearing last month.
Judge Clark Bearinger ruled Nov. 17 that the case of Manolo Felix Martinez, of the 300 block of South Franklin Street, could proceed to the Court of Common Pleas on a single count of aggravated assault.
Martinez, 23, is accused of stabbing the victim during a fight in the 200 block of Dauphin Street the evening of Oct. 11.
The 32-year-old victim testified that he suffered a stab wound to his chest and was immediately rushed into life-saving surgery after he arrived at a local hospital, where he remained for six days.
At one point during the hearing the victim lifted his shirt to display his surgical scars to the court.
Eyewitnesses told police Martinez had been arguing with the victim shortly before midnight when the two began fighting. The victim testified that he was attempting to leave in his vehicle when Martinez approached and demanded that he exit the car.
It was when the victim exited his vehicle to talk to Martinez that he was stabbed, he testified.
Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officer Matthew Odenthal, who filed the charges, testified that Martinez was found with a bloody knife when he was arrested in Maryland.
Martinez remains in Lancaster County Prison without bail due to him being deemed an extreme flight risk.
Assistant District Attorney Sarah Hansen will prosecute the case.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
