Jeff Munson/Appeal News Service Susan Rizk, center, victim of a sword attack, stands outside the courtroom with her twin sister, Lisa Watson, far left, and brother-in-law Butch Fischer. Tony Sears, the deputy district attorney who helped in the plea negotiation, talks in the background. Steve Wasserman, who attacked Rizk in October, pleaded no contest on Wednesday.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - A man who pleaded no contest to burglary, aggravated mayhem and use of a deadly weapon could spend the rest of his life in prison for attacking his ex-girlfriend with a samurai sword.
Steve Wasserman, a 36-year-old former construction worker of South Lake Tahoe, entered his plea Wednesday in the chambers of Judge Jerald Lasarow.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 4.
The victim, Susan Rizk, said she was relieved at the outcome.
"The healing process will be quicker now," she said outside the courtroom.
Rizk, 38, spent two months hospitalized at Washoe Medical Center after the Oct. 25 attack. She spent her birthday and Thanksgiving, which landed on the same day, in a hospital bed surrounded by family. She has had seven surgeries since the attack and has three to go.
"It's a relief he's being held accountable for his actions," Rizk said.
Wasserman's attorney, Lori London, declined comment as she left the courthouse. El Dorado County Deputy District Attorney Tony Sears said the plea deal was accepted with Rizk in mind.
"There was never going to be a plea that didn't take her safety, security and emotional well-being into account," Sears said.
Wasserman was arrested outside the San Francisco Avenue apartment where Rizk and the couple's daughter lived. The daughter was 4 years old when she witnessed the attack on her mother.
Wasserman has remained in El Dorado County Jail on $10 million bail since his arrest. Apart from being unruly and argumentative for his first court appearance, Wasserman has remained calm for all his hearings.
Wasserman originally pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. A family law court file stated the El Dorado County Psychiatric Health Facility assessed Wasserman as bipolar and prescribed him medication to treat the disorder.
However, Wasserman changed his plea to no contest in exchange for dropping the attempted murder charge.
The current charges carry a sentence of seven years to life in prison.
A no contest plea is the legal equivalent to a guilty plea, where a defendant recognizes that the evidence will support a conviction.
If Wasserman officially gets the sentence next month, after seven years in prison he can make his case for parole.
Sears said he subpoenaed 47 people to testify and had binders full of police reports and psychological evaluations on Wasserman.
"I'm very pleased we don't have to have people relive this," Sears said.
"This would have been a very difficult case for everybody to listen to, from an emotional standpoint, and I'm very pleased nobody will have to relive that trauma."
But for Rizk, a devout Christian, the ordeal that began in October has put her on a certain course.
"The Lord has a plan and purpose for the tragic event and the outcome. That's for sure," she said.