Cedar Rapids man to serve five years in prison for stabbing ex-girlfriend

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for stabbing and sexually assaulting his 24-year-old ex-girlfriend last January.

Jerry Matthews, 29, was found guilty in October of assault with intent to inflict serious injury, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon (domestic abuse), all aggravated misdemeanors, and willful injury causing bodily injury with the use of a dangerous weapon, a felony.

Matthews also will be on parole for a 10-year special sentence because he was convicted of a sexual offense.

Matthews was originally charged with attempted murder, but the jury found him guilty on the lesser charges of assault after deliberating over seven hours following a four-day trial.

The victim testified Matthews tried to sexually assault her, and when she refused, he stabbed her multiple times Jan. 5. She had stab wounds in her head, neck and shoulder area. She said Matthews told her he was going to kill her.

The victim said they were not in a romantic relationship at the time of the stabbing, but Matthews was staying in her apartment for about a week and was sleeping on the sofa. She said he physically abused her during a six-year relationship.

Matthews testified she had abused him over the years and she stabbed him twice, he stabbed her once and then stabbed himself. He claimed her other stab wounds were from shards of glass when she fell on a glass table.