Owatonna woman will be sentenced for stabbing charge

Published 9:35 am Tuesday, May 18, 2010

ROCHESTER — Sentencing is set for July 12 for an Owatonna woman who reached a plea deal in the stabbing death of a Rochester woman.

The Post-Bulletin reports that 21-year-old Monica Jones admitted pulling a knife on 28-year-old Ayeisha Bennett, saying she was scared, but that she told a judge Friday she never intended to kill the mother of three.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to seek more than a 12 1/2-year prison sentence and the defense can argue for less.

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Jones was charged with two counts of second-degree murder following the stabbing during a fight outside the former Windy City Bar and Grill on Nov. 1, 2008. Under the plea deal, prosecutors dismissed the count that involved premeditation, which could have led to a 25-year prison sentence.