LIMA — A Lima man pleaded guilty Tuesday, for the second time, to stabbing a woman and leaving her hospitalized.
Keith Watts, 60, was back in Allen County Common Pleas Court after an error in the wording of an indictment against him was discovered by court officials. Watts pleaded guilty to an amended second-degree felony charge of felonious assault and will be sentenced Oct. 16. He faces up to 12 years in prison.
The amendment removed language contained in the indictment that Watts “caused serious physical harm” to Deandria Watkins during the April 1 incident that took place in the area of Catalpa and Sugar Streets.
According to court records, Lima police responded to that location after a 911 call that a male was assaulting and stabbing a female. The caller said both subjects were leaving the area westbound on Catalpa Street in a green Honda.
Officers located and stopped the vehicle, which was being driven by Watts with Watkins in the back seat bleeding heavily from what appeared to be stab wounds to the arm and leg.
Watkins described Watts as her attacker, and he was taken into custody. Another witness also identified Watts as the man who attacked the female, according to court records.
As Judge Terri Kohlrieser on Tuesday went over the potential penalties to which Watts could be subjected, the defendant expressed remorse for the incident.
“I don’t want to go to prison,” Watts told the judge. “I’m sorry for what I did.”
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