A man has been sentenced to six months in jail and probation after he pleaded guilty to stabbing his elderly father in the neck, leaving him badly injured, during an argument in Waukegan.
David K. Amoako-Dennis, 23, of Waukegan, was charged in December with two counts of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery to a victim over 60 and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 12 p.m. on December 24 to the 1000 block of Lakehurst Road in Waukegan for a report of a domestic dispute.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Daly said at the time that officers arrived and found Amoako-Dennis outside of the residence.
Amoako-Dennis was covered in blood and made reference to stabbing his father, Daly said.
Officers detained Amoako-Dennis and went inside to find the 70-year-old victim covered in blood. There was also blood throughout the residence.
Daly said the father had a penetrating wound to his neck and was bleeding heavily from both his head and neck.
Paramedics transported him to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he received stitches for his stab wound along with a head injury he suffered while falling during the attack.
The victim told officers he and Amoako-Dennis got into an argument and Amoako-Dennis grabbed a knife before saying he was going to kill his father, Daly said.
Daly said Amoako-Dennis tried to stab his father multiple times but was unsuccessfully initially as the victim was able to defend himself.
Amoako-Dennis then stabbed the victim in the neck, causing the large laceration, Daly said.
A neighbor heard screaming and knocked on the apartment. The victim opened the door but was pulled back into the residence by Amoako-Dennis.
Amoako-Dennis made suicidal statements after being arrested and was transported to Vista Medical Center East for a psychiatric evaluation.
He also told officers that he did not believe the man inside the home was his father but was instead an imposter, Daly said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Amoako-Dennis pending trial and the petition was granted following his arrest in January.
A public defender representing Amoako-Dennis said at the time of the detention hearing that the man suffers from mental health issues.
Court records show Amoako-Dennis pleaded guilty last month to one count of aggravated battery of a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony, in exchange for the rest of his charges being dismissed.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, he was sentenced to 24 months of probation and 194 days in jail, which was considered served based on him receiving 194 days of credit for time spent in custody.
Amoako-Dennis was ordered to undergo an evaluation and treatment and not consume any alcohol or illegal drugs. He was also ordered to not possess weapons and be subject to a curfew.