A 37-year-old man pleaded not guilty Tuesday on charges stemming from a Valentine’s Day stabbing of a Cortez police officer.
Cortez Police Department officer Casey Eubanks suffered a small stab wound to his left side on Feb. 14, 2014, after responding to a disturbance on North Texas Street.
Shane French was subsequently charged with four counts of felony assault, five counts of resisting arrest and two counts for a crime of violence in connection to the incident.
In custody before District Court Judge Todd, French pleaded not guilty to all charges on Tuesday, July. 8. A weeklong trial was scheduled to start on Nov. 17.
According to court records, French was initially charged with attempted murder. He remains at the Montezuma County jail without bond.
After a struggle with the suspect, police confiscated a 6-inch serrated knife and a 3¼-inch paring knife, according to court records. Police responded to the scene after the defendant’s mother called 911 and reported that the suspect was verbally abusive.
District Attorney Will Furse said he offered a plea deal to the suspect that would include a 12-year prison sentence.