For the second time in two months, Iowa City man given deferred judgment in stabbing case

Lang
2/21/25

For the second time in two months, an Iowa City man has been given a deferred judgment in a stabbing case.

Iowa City Police allege 56-year-old Lonzo Powers attacked another man with a box cutter outside Powers’ residence at the Town & Campus Apartments on Arthur Street on August 22nd of last year. The victim had injuries consistent with being slashed by a box cutter, and he received several stitches at a local hospital.

Powers was charged with Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury, Going Armed with Intent, and Assault While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon. If convicted on all counts, he would have faced a maximum of 12 years in prison.  But Powers reached a plea deal, and on Friday Judge Deborah Minot gave him a deferred judgement and two years of probation on the Willful Injury charge. The other two counts were dismissed.

Last month Powers was given a deferred judgment and one year of probation on an Assault Causing Bodily Injury charge. In that case, Powers was accused of stabbing another person multiple times during a fight near the intersection of Clinton and Washington Streets on the night of April 24th, 2024. He was initially charged with Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury, a Class C Felony punishable by a maximum of ten years in prison.