More Trouble for Murder Suspect Accused of Stabbing Lawyer with Attorney's Own Pen
Joshua Monson may have felt he had little to lose when, according to police, he punched a corrections officer in the face yesterday while meeting with his lawyer at the Snohomish County jail.
Now facing a first-degree murder charge—as well as three unrelated assault charges; in two of those cases, Monson is accused of stabbing his own lawyers with pencils smuggled from jail—the 28-year-old had a hand freed yesterday to sign some paperwork, the Daily Herald reports. That’s when the alleged attack on the jail guard occurred. The guard was not seriously injured.
Monson was arraigned yesterday in the murder case and pleaded not guilty. He is also accused—but not charged—of five other assaults, not counting yesterday’s incident but including one in which he reportedly attacked his own lawyer with the attorney’s own pen.
Prosecutor Ed Stemler told the judge yesterday that he has reviewed the five cases, which also include additional alleged attacks on corrections officers. It isn’t clear from the article whether the government intends to pursue charges in those matters or pursue charges related to yesterday’s claimed attack.
Monson arrived in court yesterday for his arraignment, along with seven corrections officers, strapped to a chair, in arm and leg restraints, after initially refusing to come out of the holding cell, the newspaper recounts. The presiding judge then ordered him forcibly brought into court.
The restraints have been a standard precaution since authorities say Monson attacked his first attorney, Tom Cox, with a smuggled jail pencil during jury selection last May in a drug case Monson was then facing. Another Daily Herald story provides more details about that incident.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Defendant Loses Right to a Lawyer After Allegedly Stabbing 3 of Them with Pencils or Pens in Court”
