Iowa City stabbing suspect given 60 day sentence

Lang
11/16/23

An Iowa City stabbing suspect has been sentenced to spend two months in jail.

Court records show on Tuesday Judge Lars Anderson gave 42-year-old Michaela Austin a one-year jail sentence on a charge of Assault While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon. All but 60 days of that sentence were suspended. She was also fined $855 and given two years of probation.

Austin entered a guilty plea on October 30th as part of a plea deal. She had initially been charged with Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury.

Iowa City Police say Austin became involved in an altercation with some children outside her home on Shady Glenn Court just before 10:15pm on April 27th. Austin allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the children’s mother multiple times in the chest and torso. The woman’s injuries were described by police as “severe”, requiring “significant medical intervention” and requiring several days in the hospital to treat.

Police say Austin admitted to stabbing the woman, saying she saw several people jump her son, with the victim punching him multiple times.

The victim claimed she was breaking up the fight, never hit anyone, and had no weapons.
Police say the son showed no signs of being attacked.

If convicted on the original charge, Austin would have faced a maximum of ten years in prison.