Plea entered in attempted murder case

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SANDPOINT — A Bonner County man charged with attempted murder after stabbing a woman at a Sandpoint apartment complex pled guilty Thursday to the charge under the terms of a plea deal.

In exchange for an Alford plea of guilty to the attempted murder charge, burglary charges against Joshua Carl Skandunas, 49, were dismissed.

Under an Alford plea, a defendant admits no wrongdoing but concedes a guilty verdict could result following a trial. The plea is treated no differently than a standard plea of guilt at sentencing.

Under the terms of the deal reached through mediation, prosecutors agreement not to seek more than 11 years fixed with another four years indeterminate in the case. Skandunas also is free to argue for a lesser sentence.

However, according to court documents, the judge could not be bound by the agreement or the sentencing recommendation.

Skandunas is accused of turning up at the woman's Sandpoint apartment and asking to be let inside to pick up a package on Aug. 29, 2020. He pulled a butcher knife from behind his back and the woman suffered a defensive wound to her left hand attempting to grab the weapon, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Witnesses told Sandpoint Police they saw the alleged victim being chased by Skandunas, who was armed with a butcher knife. Officers located a woman, who had taken refuge in another apartment, with two stab wounds to her upper torso, according to a court documents.

Skandunas allegedly forced his way into the apartment where the woman was hiding, but he was reportedly driven off by the dwelling's resident, court documents indicate.

At the time of his arrest, Skandunas said he may have stabbed the woman, but told police he didn't remember any details about the confrontation.

Before the plea deal was reached, Skandunas had pled not guilty in later January, paving the way for a jury trial in June.

Sentencing in the case is set for Aug. 3