A Lyon County man was sentenced to eight years in prison for the unprovoked February knife attack of a Carson City man.
James Redmon, 26, pleaded guilty in April to one count of battery with a deadly weapon.
The 21-year-old victim told police he was walking in the 1300 block of South Carson Street on the west side of the highway, while his friends were walking on the east side of the highway, when he was attacked from behind by Redmon, who was a stranger.
The victim suffered a large, gaping slash to his throat and was taken by helicopter to a Reno hospital, where he was treated and released.
"According to every witness to the crime, this was a completely unprovoked attack.
The victim was simply walking down the street with friends when the defendant, who was extremely intoxicated, grabbed the victim by the head and slashed his throat with a knife," said Assistant District Attorney Gerald Gardner. "This could very easily have been a fatal injury."
Gardner said Redmon admitted the attack, but claimed he believed he was defending himself.
Redmon will not be eligible for parole until he has served a minimum of 24 months.
Judge Todd Russell also ordered Redmon to pay $13,115 in restitution as part of his sentence.
Redmon was convicted in Lyon County in 2002 for the crime of conspiracy to commit battery with a deadly weapon. He served approximately six months in jail for that offense and was dishonorably discharged from probation.