Jury convicts Jerry Matthews of lesser charges in ex-girlfriend’s stabbing

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Linn County jury found Jerry Matthews guilty of lesser charges in the stabbing of his 24-year-old ex-girlfriend.

Matthews, 29, of Cedar Rapids, was found guilty of assault with intent to inflict serious injury, an aggravated misdemeanor, felony willful injury causing bodily injury with the use of a dangerous weapon, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon (domestic abuse), both aggravated misdemeanors.

Matthews was originally charged with attempted murder, which has a 25-year prison term.

Matthews faces up to 11 years in prison. There is no mandatory minimum on the felony charge. Sentencing will be set at a later date.

The jury deliberated over seven hours following a four day trial. Matthews had no visible reaction to the verdict.

The victim said 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.

The victim testified she was physically abused over the six year relationship with Matthews. They have two children together. She described several incidents when Matthews would slap her in the face, once giving her a black eye, choking her, pushing her backward into the shower and another time punching her in the stomach when she was pregnant with their first child.

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.

According to testimony, Matthews told his former boss that his wounds were self-inflicted.