Man disputes stabbing charge

A 21-year-old Langley man accused of repeatedly stabbing another man during a party on South Whidbey last month continues to be held in Island County jail, according to court documents.

Prosecutors charged Jarrett Julison in Island County Superior Court April 27 with assault in the second degree. He pleaded not guilty May 7.

In court Monday, Island County Superior Court Judge Alan Hancock maintained Julison’s bail at $75,000.

Langley Officer Mike Birchfield investigated the April 24 incident. He states in his report that Julison and the 53-year-old victim were at Julison’s 21st birthday party at a Langley home. The victim is the boyfriend of the homeowner, who rented to Julison but recently asked him to leave.

Witnesses said Julison and the victim got into a fight and Julison stabbed the older man with a knife several times, Birchfield wrote. The fight ended when Julison pushed the man through the glass front door, according to the officer’s report.

The victim’s girlfriend started driving him to the hospital, but stopped at the Bayview Red Apple and called 911 after she realized how serious his injuries were.

The victim sustained five jagged puncture wounds. He was transported to Whidbey General Hospital and airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he underwent surgery.

Julison agreed to speak to police later that night, but was surprised when he was arrested after arriving at the Langley Police Station. He admitted swinging a knife at the other man, but he “claims he did not know he even stabbed him,” Birchfield wrote.

If convicted of the charge, Julison faces a standard-range sentence of six months to a year in jail.

You can reach News-Times reporter Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynews

times.com or call 675-6611.