6 months in prison for man who stabbed his elderly father in the neck in Waukegan

A man was sentenced to six months in prison and probation after pleading guilty to stabbing his elderly father in the neck and seriously injuring him during an argument in Waukegan.

David K. Amoako-Dennis, 23, of Waukegan, was charged in December with two counts of aggravated assault causing serious injury, aggravated domestic violence, aggravated battery on a victim over 60 years of age and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Waukegan Police responded to an incident in the 1000 block of Lakehurst Road in Waukegan around noon on December 24 for a report of a domestic dispute.

Lake County Assistant District Attorney Mary Daly said at the time that when officers arrived, they found Amoako-Dennis outside the residence.

Amoako-Dennis was covered in blood and indicated that he had stabbed his father, Daly said.

Officers arrested Amoako-Dennis and entered the house. There they found the 70-year-old victim covered in blood. Blood was also visible throughout the house.

Daly said the father had a penetrating wound to the neck and was bleeding heavily from his head and neck.

Paramedics took him to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where he received stitches for a stab wound and a head injury he sustained when he fell during the attack.

The victim told officers that an argument broke out between him and Amoako-Dennis and that Amoako-Dennis grabbed a knife before saying he wanted to kill his father, Daly said.

Daly said Amoako-Dennis tried to stab his father several times, but was initially unsuccessful because the victim was able to defend himself.

Amoako-Dennis then stabbed the victim in the neck, causing the large cut, Daly said.

A neighbor heard screams and knocked on the apartment door. The victim opened the door, but was pulled back into the apartment by Amoako-Dennis.

Amoako-Dennis expressed suicidal thoughts after his arrest and was taken to Vista Medical Center East for psychiatric evaluation.

He also told officers that he did not believe the man in the house was his father, but that he was an imposter, Daly said.

The Lake County District Attorney's Office filed a motion to detain Amoako-Dennis pending trial, which was granted after his arrest in January.

A public defender representing Amoako-Dennis said at the time of the detention hearing that the man was suffering from mental health problems.

Court records show that Amoako-Dennis pleaded guilty last month to one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony, in exchange for the remaining charges against him being dropped.

According to the agreement, he was sentenced to 24 months probation and 194 days in prison, which was considered time served because he received credit for the time he spent in custody.

Amoako-Dennis was ordered to undergo evaluation and treatment, to refrain from consuming alcohol or illegal drugs, to possess weapons and to remain under a curfew.