Mario Forbes was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday, but a prosecutor said he should feel lucky.
That’s because Forbes, 32, who pleaded guilty to slashing a man’s neck inside a Clifton Avenue home with a box cutter, “barely missed” his victim’s carotid arteries — and a subsequent murder charge.
Police arrested Forbes Aug. 10, 2015, minutes after the slashing at 20 Clifton Ave., a multi-family home at the corner of Cook Street.
’He Was Armed With A Machete’
That afternoon, Forbes and his girlfriend had gotten into an argument that became physical, State’s Attorney Kevin Lawlor said at Superior Court in Milford.
During the fight, Forbes hit his girlfriend with a beer bottle and then began choking her.
“During this whole time he was armed with a machete,” Lawlor said.
Another man who lives at the house intervened, managing to wrestle the machete away from Forbes.
But at some point he turned his back.
Lawlor said Forbes snuck up behind the man and sliced his neck with a box cutter.
Incredibly, the victim was released from the hospital later that night — after doctors closed an eight-inch neck wound with 14 sutures.
Forbes was charged with first-degree assault, third-degree assault, third-degree strangulation, first-degree reckless endangerment, and disorderly conduct.
He’s been behind bars since.
Article continues after photo taken at the scene last August.
On April 27, Forbes pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, third-degree assault, and carrying a dangerous weapon in the case before Judge Frank Iannotti.
Lengthy Record
During Forbes’ sentencing, Lawlor said his criminal record dates back to 2002.
Forbes told a probation officer writing a sentencing report that he is a former member of the Bloods gang in Bridgeport. He has already served prison stints for serious assaults and weapons charges, the prosecutor said.
But he’s also an alcoholic with serious mental health issues, including schizophrenia.
Lawlor said Forbes was given the benefit of the doubt in at least two previous cases. He flunked out of diversionary programs intended to spare him from prison. He hasn’t learned.
“He is an extreme danger to the community,” Lawlor said.
Victim ‘Extremely Upset’
The man Forbes slashed with a box cutter agrees. He was “extremely upset” to hear the judge offered Forbes a sentence of eight years behind bars, Lawlor said.
Lawlor said he wanted a 10-year prison sentence during plea negotiations.
The victim called Lawlor to object vehemently, saying it was only through “sheer luck” that he was still alive.
“I can’t really say after reading all (the facts) that I disagree with him,” Lawlor said.
Given the opportunity to say something, Forbes declined.
But his lawyer, Public Defender Susan Brown, said her client has lived “an extremely challenging life” beset by mental health and substance abuse problems.
He’s received Social Security disability payments his entire adult life, she said.
Brown apologized on Forbes’ behalf to both the victim and the judge Wednesday. She said he’s been taking his meds while jailed, and is having fewer problems as as a result.
Judge: You’re Getting A Break, Use It
Judge Iannotti told Forbes he was fortunate to be receiving the eight-year sentence.
He said he trimmed two years off Lawlor’s offer during plea negotiations only after reviewing Forbes’ history of mental illness.
“I am going to impose the (eight-year sentence), not without some reservations,” the judge said.
The judge then told Forbes to keep getting better or he’d end up back in jail again.
“Mr. Forbes, I’m going to urge you while incarcerated and upon your release to seek the treatment that you need. If you don’t, I see a difficult path,” Judge Iannotti said. “It’s really up to you.”
He then imposed a 14-year sentence to be suspended after eight years, to be followed by five years of probation.
The judge ordered Forbes to take part in mental health treatment, take all prescribed medications, comply with random drug tests, and participate in domestic violence counseling.
Forbes is also barred from having any contact with either the woman he choked or the man he slashed for the next 50 years.
