Laguna Beach Teen Pleads Guilty in Facebook Stabbing Incident

A 17-year-old Laguna Beach boy pleaded guilty today to stabbing a rival in a feud that started with traded insults on Facebook.

Michael Jason Wilson entered his plea to felony assault with a deadly weapon with a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily harm. Two other felony counts of assault with the same sentencing enhancements were dismissed, according to court records.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Craig Robison immediately sentenced Wilson to a year in jail and three years of probation, court records show. His attorney, Paul Meyer, declined comment.

The teen, who was 16 at the time of the March 11, 2010 attack in Laguna Beach, was prosecuted as an adult. Prosecutors said he had an ongoing Facebook feud with a 17-year-old former classmate that boiled over. He agreed to meet his rival after school at Wilson's house in Laguna Beach, where he stabbed the other boy in the stomach with a 12-inch carving knife, according to prosecutors.

Three of the victim's friends, who were waiting in a nearby car, got out to help their friend and took the knife away from the defendant, who was accused of also slashing the hands and arms of two boys. The victim stabbed in the stomach was in the hospital for a week, and another boy needed surgery on his hand, according to prosecutors.

The teenager could have faced up to 15 years in state prison had he gone to trial and been convicted as charged.

—City News Service