“I don’t deserve to be locked up’: Man convicted in stabbing maintains self-defense argument during sentencing
By Chloe Morrissey
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MADISON, Wisconsin (WKOW) — The man convicted in a stabbing at City Bar in Madison was sentenced in Dane County Court on Tuesday.
James Davis, 52, was sentenced to seven years, including two years in prison and five years of extended supervision, following a stabbing at City Bar in September 2024.
Prosecutors said Davis got into an altercation with a family celebrating their son’s 21st birthday at the bar. During the fight, Davis stabbed the father in the throat and chest and stabbed the son in the neck. Both victims survived, though the stabbing of the father narrowly missed his carotid artery.
Back in October, a jury returned a split verdict, finding Davis guilty of first-degree reckless injury but acquitting him of first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
Tuesday’s sentencing lasted about two hours. Family members of Davis and one of the victims addressed the court before the judge imposed the sentence.
Davis’ cousin, Monica Howard was the first witness to speak.
“He’s been the one that had the jokes to make us laugh at the family gatherings,” said Howard. “He’s the one taking photos for us to have memories. He has a kind, loving heart. He’s never been one to be in trouble on the streets.”
One of the victims did not attend in person but provided a statement by phone, describing the lasting effects from the stabbing.
“Every morning when I shave, I have to be careful not to nick that scar on my neck,” the victim said. “It’s a daily, very unpleasant reminder of what’s happened to me and my family.”
He reminded the court that what his family has gone through is more than physical.
“We’ve all been a lot more suspicious around other people, which is a sad, sad thing,” the victim said.
Davis addressed the court and said he had no intention of getting violent that night.
“I am not an evil, bad person, not a menace or threat to anyone or to the society or community,” said Davis. “I do have remorse and I take accountability for my actions. It’s just that I protected myself and hands were put on me first.”
According to court documents, the men told police they were at City Bar when Davis had grabbed the arm of the older man’s wife and the younger man’s mom. The older man said he tried to push Davis away.
Davis denied touching the victim’s wife, maintaining he was being crowded around and acted in self-defense.
“I do feel bad for his injury. It was not intentional at all,” said Davis. “The only intent was to get these people off of me. I never touched [her] at all. She jumped into my space, there was yelling and I never touched them. That was it. Next thing I know I have conflict with two people upon my person.”
Following Davis’ testimony, Dane County Judge Ellen Berz questioned him about that night, pointing to claims he previously made about his alcohol use and impaired judgment the night of the stabbing.
“So alcohol did not play a part in your action to pull out the knife?” Berz asked.
“Correct, alcohol did not, this is not the stable point of me,” Davis responded, talking about the stabbing. “This is a reaction from someone putting their hands on me, being aggressive towards me.”
“Alcohol played no part in your decision to bring the knife with you to a crowded bar. Is that correct?” Berz asked.
“My decision was conscious,” Davis answered. “I don’t think that just because I was drinking that I decided to bring any type of weapon with me. I mean, that is not my intent to do harm and to get drunk and go out and hurt people.”
After the sentencing, 27 News spoke with Davis’ daughter, Kailly Davis. She read a letter she wrote that was not shared in court, describing her father as kind and understanding.
The letter reads, in part: “He is my rock and one of the only few people on this planet who can take the most dramatic breakdown, snot nose cry and all, and turn it into a calming and learning moment for me and so many could only dream of the love, admiration and mutual respect I received from him. I have only ever known my dad to be understanding, kind and strong beyond belief. To see him in any other sense would be an injustice and simply incorrect, and I wish that everyone could get to know him on the level that I do. People prefer to see him as a scary, dark-skinned black man whose face favors a frown because it’s easier for them. They don’t see the man who showed me Star Wars for the first time when I was six years old…”
As part of his sentence, Davis is prohibited from entering bars or liquor stores and may not live in a residence where alcohol, drugs or dangerous weapons are present. He is also barred from possessing those items and must undergo routine alcohol testing every two weeks until he completes six consecutive months without a missed or failed test.
“I don’t deserve to be locked up or institutionalized whatsoever,” Davis said. “I’m already in here with people who are already mentally and emotionally unstable, very much so every day, that is not something I want to be around continuously.”
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