Man gets 10 years for slashing woman's throat at ATM

By KOMO Staff & News Services

Summary

Joseph R. Smith pleaded guilty Monday in Whatcom County Superior Court to first-degree assault with a deadly weapon.

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Story Published: Jan 12, 2009 at 11:02 AM PST

Story Updated: Jan 12, 2009 at 8:40 PM PST

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- A man who slashed a woman's throat with a box cutter as she withdrew money from an ATM was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison.

Joseph R. Smith pleaded guilty to first-degree assault with a deadly weapon in the July, 2008 attack.

Samantha Shields required 50 stitches to close cuts to her throat and jaw line.

"He wasn't just trying to take my money," she said. "I thought he was trying to kill me."

A crew working inside the Whatcom Educational Credit Union heard her screams and chased off the attacker, who ran off without taking anything from her.

Smith was arrested a short time later after Ferndale police used dogs to track a scent from the credit union.