Man convicted of stabbing won’t have to pay restitution

Almond scrapped with his sister’s significant other, Kaylin Darnell, on the evening of July 3, 2022, and stabbed him four times, according to previous testimony. 

Almond told police that he acted in self-defense when he stabbed Darnell with a Schrade folding knife. 

Darnell testified that Almond struck him in the back of the head, causing the coffee he was holding to go flying across the room.

The two men fought mostly on the kitchen floor, according to testimony. At one point in the fight, while Almond and Darnell were standing in the kitchen near a stairway leading upstairs, Almond jumped up several times and struck Darnell in the back. 

Darnell thought he was just getting hit, as Almond left his feet each time before striking down on Darnell. 

But Darnell testified previously that he fell to the floor.

Darnell testified he had four stab wounds, one in his lower neck and the rest on his back, one near his shoulder blade. His lung was punctured and he required hospitalization. 

Almond received probation, and in accordance with his plea has been getting therapy through Labette Center for Mental Health Services for his mental health issues that include paranoia, anxiety and schizoaffective disorder.

The hearing for restitution was scheduled for Wednesday, but Darnell did not appear in court. County Attorney Mandy Johnson said she had received the victim impact statement but did not know if Darnell had medical bills, as none had been provided to her office. She said she had reached out but had not been able to contact Darnell.

Given that no medical bills were produced and Darnell did not appear to give voice to the medical bills he incurred, Judge Steven A. Stockard said he was ordering no restitution in the case.

Stockard said Darnell can seek assistance from the state Victim’s Compensation Board.

“My hope is they can help him in recuperating costs,” Stockard said.