Youth charged as an adult in stabbing

A 16-year-old Laguna Beach boy has been charged as an adult for allegedly stabbing another teenager in the stomach and assaulting two of the victim’s friends with a carving knife on March 11 outside his family home, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

Michael Jason Wilson will face three felony counts of aggravated assault with sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison, the district attorney’s office stated.

Wilson is out of jail on $65,000 bail and is scheduled for an arraignment at 9 a.m. Monday.

The incident was preceeded by a series of Facebook and text and e-mail messages described as “a long-simmering feud,” according to Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz. Wilson is a former classmate of the victims, who attend Laguna Beach High School, according to the district attorney’s office.

The dispute resulted in Wilson agreeing to meet the 17-year-old stabbing victim, at Wilson’s home on Juanita Way on March 11.

After school on March 11, the stabbing victim and two other 16-year-olds drove with a fourth friend to the Wilson home, where the defendant met the victim outside while the other three waited in the car. Following a confrontation, Wilson allegedly stabbed the victim the stomach with a 12-inch carving knife which he had brought outside with him.

The three friends got out of the car and ran to help the victim and struggled with Wilson, during which their hands and arms were cut, the district attorney alleges. A fourth friend was not injured. The victims then got into their car and drove away, and flagged down a passing police officer.

The stabbing victim and the other victims were transported to the hospital for treatment. The stabbing victim underwent surgeries to treat wounds to his stomach and hands. He was released from the hospital after one week. Another boy underwent surgery on his hand and received stitches, and another victim also required stitches for his wounds, according to the district attorney’s office.