SWEETWATER COUNTY — Michael Delgado, age 36 of Chula Vista, California, was sentenced to probation by District Judge Nena James for repeatedly stabbing a semi truck driver as he was driving down Interstate 80 in Sweetwater County last summer.

Delgado appeared before Judge James in Sweetwater County District Court on July 31, 2014. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Delgado pled guilty to one count of aggravated assault and battery, which is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment. The prosecution asked the Court to impose the maximum of 9 to 10 years imprisonment, citing the violent nature of the attack and the extreme danger posed to the driver and the traveling public. Judge James declined to impose prison time and instead released the Defendant on 4 years of supervised probation.

Delgado was arrested on July 18, 2013 by the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Delgado and his victim were co-drivers of a semi tractor trailer combination traveling east on Interstate 80. Delgado was in the sleeper area of the truck when he reportedly became convinced that he had been drugged and was about to be sexually assaulted. Delgado admitted in court that he stabbed the driver of the truck with a knife 7 times, wounding the driver in the head, neck, back, arm, and hand. The victim was able to slow the 65,000 pound truck from normal highway speeds, stop and flee on foot. Delgado then drove the truck about 10 miles further east on Interstate 80 where he waited for law enforcement to arrive.

-From a press release