Man Pleads Guilty After Stabbing Dad’s Roommate in Cokato

Sep 15

A Wright County man has pleaded guilty nearly a year after a stabbing left a 67-year-old man with a severe neck wound.

Court records show that Julian Deuce Hill, 25, entered a guilty plea this week to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with the stabbing at a home Oct. 1, 2024, on Nevens Avenue Southwest in Cokato Township.

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Deputies were called to the residence just after 9 p.m. and found Donnie Stefanski bleeding heavily from a two-inch laceration under his jaw. Stefanski told deputies that Hill had come out of a bedroom, yelled something and stabbed him in the neck before running from the house.

Two witnesses also reported seeing the stabbing. Stefanski was treated by ambulance and later airlifted to North Memorial Hospital.

Deputies located Hill walking on Nevens Avenue a short time later and arrested him. He was charged with two felony counts of second-degree assault, including one for causing substantial bodily harm.

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On Thursday, Hill agreed to plead guilty to the assault charges. Because he said he could not remember the circumstances of the stabbing, he entered what is known as a Norgaard plea, agreeing that the state’s evidence would likely be enough to convict him beyond a reasonable doubt even though he claims he does not recall the incident.

As part of the plea deal, Hill agreed to a 39-month prison sentence. As of publication, he remains in custody at the Wright County Jail while awaiting formal sentencing.

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