20-Year-Old Who Stabbed Man Over $5 Debt Gets Probation Instead Of Up To 9 Years In Prison

By Alric Lindsay

A 20-year-old man who stabbed another man over a $5 debt has avoided an immediate custodial sentence after Hon. Justice Richards chose to step outside standard sentencing guidelines to focus on his youth and rehabilitation.

Ka’Neil Moses Ebanks was facing a standard starting point of six years in prison—with a guideline range of five to nine years—after a jury convicted him on an indictment of Wounding with Intent. The conviction followed a trial held from February 16 to 20.

The court heard that an argument erupted over the unpaid $5. While walking to a nearby location to get change to make payment, the complainant heard a clicking sound before Ebanks attacked him from behind, driving a single puncture wound into the side of the complainant’s abdomen.

Defence attorney Keith Myers urged the court to follow a lenient path outlined in the Pre-Sentence Report, noting Ebanks’ deep remorse. In his interview, Ebanks stated, “I did a bad thing, but I am not a bad person.” The Hon. Justice Richards highlighted that she also received a note from the convicting jury highlighting Ebanks’ extreme youth, and the court heard that, according to a Victim Impact Report, the victim was not seeking any financial compensation or protective orders.

Justice Richards issued a stern warning: “You are looking at a lengthy prison sentence… but I propose in this case to focus on rehabilitation.”

Ebanks was placed on a two-year probation order, mandated to complete a strict anger management program, ordered to register with the WORC employment portal, and told to complete 240 hours of community service. He must also keep the peace with the victim. Justice Richards warned Ebanks that any breach of probation would trigger an immediate re-sentencing to prison.