Crime & Safety

City Man Shot by Cop After Stabbing Girlfriend Sentenced

Decoitius Dickerson gets 100 to 200 months in prison; ex-girlfriend says that's not enough.

A Bethlehem man shot by city police through a bathroom window after he was spotted stabbing his estranged girlfriend was sentenced to 100 to 200 months in a state prison for the crime, according to reports in The Morning Call and The Express-Times.

Decoitius Dickerson was sentenced earlier today by Northampton County Judge Leonard Zito, after hearing from family members, including the victim, Kristina Fallstich.

Dickerson was tearfully apologetic, according to the published reports, but family members were dismissive of his apparent contrition. In fact, Fallstich told Zito that she believes Dickerson will come after her once he is ultimately released, which could take as little as eight years and four months.

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Dickerson, 45, was found guilty of unlawful restraint, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and possessing an instrument of crime in a nonjury trial presided over by Zito in September. The judge found Dickerson innocent of attempted homicide in the assault, which occurred on Sept. 13, 2010.

The attack was stopped by Bethlehem police Sgt. Jonathan Pesesko, who saw, through a bathroom window of the family home, Dickerson stabbing Fallstich. He fired his gun and hit Dickerson in the chest.

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