Roanoke judge sentences man to be deported after serving jail time

By Neil Harvey
981-3376

A domestic dispute escalated to a stabbing over the summer and led, this week, to jail time and deportation for the attacker.

David Anthony Francis, 42, pleaded no contest Friday in Roanoke Circuit Court to one count of unlawful stabbing, following a June altercation with relatives.
Judge Clifford Weckstein gave Francis an eight-month sentence to serve, with a little more than four years in suspended time.

Francis, who is in the United States on a green card, will be returned to Jamaica, his native country, according to Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Peter Lubeck.

Officers were called twice on June 21 to a family argument in the 3800 block of Long Meadow Avenue Northwest. On the second visit, they were told that Francis had attacked his wife and her relatives as they were helping her pack her belongings. Police said he threw bricks at them and stabbed one of the male relatives in the abdomen.

Lubeck said Friday that the injury was a small puncture wound and the victim has recovered.

An additional charge of attempted malicious wounding against Francis was dismissed.

Roanoke judge sentences man to be deported after serving jail time - Roanoke.com