In a surprise move, a 53-year-old gay man pleaded guilty Oct. 27 to attempted murder of an acquaintance whom he stabbed during an attempted sexual assault.
Kenneth John Bauer, of San Diego, agreed to accept a nine-year prison term in exchange for dismissal of all other charges in San Diego Superior Court that included assault with intent to commit forcible sodomy.
Sentencing was set for Dec. 6 by Judge Eugenia Eyherabide. Bauer, who was wearing blue jail clothes, remains in the medical unit of the downtown jail on $500,000 bail.
The victim, who is in his late 20s, appeared in court Oct. 27 to testify in the preliminary hearing. Bauer’s guilty plea means he and other witnesses won’t have to testify regarding the Sept. 11 crime.
The victim was stabbed in the chest, back and hands and was taken to a hospital, said Deputy District Attorney Ana De Santiago. Bauer also stabbed himself in the stomach and was arraigned in his hospital bed at Scripps Mercy Hospital Sept. 15.
The judge asked Bauer some questions about his plea. He admitted to personal use of a deadly weapon, a knife and to inflicting great bodily injury to the victim. On a court document, Bauer wrote, “I used a knife to attempt to kill another person.”
Bauer’s elderly parents were in the courtroom and heard his plea.
The incident occurred around 10:40 p.m. in the 2900 block of Fifth Avenue. De Santiago said both the victim and Bauer knew each other. The victim was able to run away after being stabbed and called police.
Police officers went to the camper, but Bauer refused to surrender for several hours. He wasn’t wearing clothing when police initially talked to him. Police used pepper spray and a dog to get him to surrender after two hours had passed.
