Mamea.

An Arcata man was sentenced this morning to 13 years in state prison for stabbing and attempting to kill a homeless man who was asleep on an Old Town street.

Judge Kelly Neel handed Tory Tasi Parker Mamea the maximum term of nine years for the attempted murder of Timothy Edward Hansen. Mamea received an additional three years for causing great bodily injury and one more year for using a knife.

Jury selection for Mamea’s trial had begun when he accepted an offer to plead guilty, with the benefit being that the prosecution was no longer calling the attack premeditated. In California premeditated attempted murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Mamea stabbed Hansen multiple times on Sept. 24, 2020. He died later, but from other causes.

Judge Neel reprimanded Mamea today for his crime, questioning his motive and asking whether he had thought about the impact on his own family. Seven people supporting Mamea were in the courtroom audience. One of them was holding a baby girl.

Neel also pointed out Hansen was already in terrible circumstances, living on the street.

“How much worse can it get?” she asked.

As part of his agreement with the prosecution, the 29-year-old Mamea agreed to give up all credit for the two-plus years spent in Humboldt County Correctional Facility.

When Mamea was arrested about six weeks after the stabbing, Eureka police said they had conducted an extensive investigation, relying on video surveillance and witness statements, to identify the suspect.

Just eight days before he stabbed Hansen, Mamea was arrested for suspected drunken driving, his second arrest for that offense. And four months before the stabbing, Mamea was charged with misdemeanor battery on a spouse or cohabitant.

Deputy District Attorney Trent Timm handled the case for his office, with Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo representing Mamea.

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