Lafayette's Centennial Park stabbing attacker convicted of attempted murder

LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Travion Barbee’s Attack of a couple in Centennial Park on January 10, 2023It resulted in a guilty conviction for two counts of attempted murder and a prison sentence of 85 years.

On January 10, 2023, Barbee walked up to Caycie Stantz and made a racist comment to her, and then stabbed her in the neck on January 10, 2023. Stantz’s boyfriend, Joseph Hughes, saw the attack and rushed to defend Stantz, resulting in him also being stabbed.

On Wednesday, Tippecanoe 2nd Superior Judge Steve Meyer sentenced Barbee, 39, to 40 years in prison for one count of attempted murder and 35 years in prison for the second count of attempted murder. He later added another 10 years for the habitual delinquency charge.

Indiana requires convicts to serve 75% of their sentences. In Barbee’s case, his 85-year sentence equates to almost 64 years in prison. He has already served for almost 23 months. He will be more than 100 years old when he serves his sentence in an Indiana prison.

Barbee opted for a hearing in August, but courtroom disturbances landed him in contempt of court twice and caused his trial to be postponed. At the end of the trial, Meyer found Barbee guilty of two counts of attempted murder, as well as one count of battery involving serious bodily injury, two counts of battery with a deadly weapon and one count of battery involving moderate bodily injury.

His battery convictions were vacated at sentencing Wednesday to avoid legal arguments over double jeopardy if he appeals the case.

Contact Ron Wilkins at: [email protected]. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

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