Man receives suspended sentence for fatal stabbing in St. Paul

A 58-year-old man will not immediately have to serve an additional prison sentence in connection with a fatal stabbing in St. Paul in October 2023.

According to a spokesman for the Ramsey County District Attorney's Office, Alvin Stafford was sentenced to more than six years (81 months) in prison, suspended for the duration of his seven years of probation, and will also receive credit for more than 365 days served in jail.

Stafford must also undergo a mental and physical health evaluation and follow treatment recommendations, as well as pay damages.

“Because the main witness to the incident was not available for trial and there were other important evidentiary issues, the state, after consultation with the investigating agency, agreed to this deviation from the sentencing guidelines,” the spokesman said.

As previously reported, Stafford was initially charged with second-degree murder. According to court records, he pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in June as part of a plea deal.

Randall Williams, 37, was fatally stabbed in the chest at a home on Inlehart Avenue in St. Paul on October 6, 2023.

RELATED TOPICS: Stabbing leaves one dead in St. Paul's Union Park neighborhood

According to court documents, Williams, Stafford and other roommates were at the house that morning with Williams' girlfriend. Williams and his girlfriend began arguing about the missing money, so Stafford intervened and told Williams to leave the woman alone. Williams then attacked Stafford and the argument turned physical.

A witness said she saw Stafford pull a knife from his jeans, but ran to her room in fear and did not see him use it.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found two knives.