By Shereen Siewert
A warrant was issued Wednesday for a 44-year-old Wausau man accused of stabbing a woman at a west side home in 2019, after the man failed to show up for a scheduled hearing in the case.
Calvin F. Morris pleaded no contest Jan. 10 in Marathon County Circuit Court to amended charges of substantial battery, a felony, and disorderly conduct as part of an agreement with prosecutors. Those charges were reduced from initial charges of first degree recklessly endangering safety as a domestic abuse repeater, disorderly conduct, possession of an illegally obtained prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Court records show the amended charges carry a “repeater” ehancer, which can add additional time to his sentence. “Repeater” enhancers are added to charges when the defendant has at least three prior misdemeanor convictions over the past five years.
Before Morris could be sentenced, he withdrew his no contest plea and a new sentencing date was sent. That date was postponed, and a status hearing was set for June 10.
During Wednesday’s hearing Reserve Judge Greg Grau ordered Morris’ $500 cash bond forfeited and issued a bench warrant when Morris failed to appear as scheduled.
According to the criminal complaint Morris was arrested in the early morning hours of Jan. 13, 2019 after a woman called 911 to report she had been stabbed. Police arrived at the residence, in the 1500 block of N. First Ave. and found the woman outside the home with a stab wound to her leg, according to court filings.
The alleged victim told police she was inside a bedroom with the door closed, packing her belongings when Morris entered the room, “faked like he was going to punch her,” then lunged at the woman and stabbed her with a switchblade. A witness reported hearing Morris and the woman arguing behind closed doors, then heard Morris say he didn’t “mean to do it,” according to the police report.
After the stabbing, Morris walked out of the bedroom, sat on the couch and smoked methamphetamine, the witness told police. The woman fled the home and called police.
When they arrived at the home, officers searched Morris and found the knife allegedly used in the attack along with six additional folding knives, 21 prescription pills, and drug paraphernalia containing burned residue, the complaint reads.
Court records show Morris was previously convicted of resisting or obstructing an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, violating a domestic abuse order, and possession of marijuana. All his prior convictions were recorded in 2018.
