NORWICH – A Norwich man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after stabbing one victim and biting another after he attempted to steal from a car in the City of Norwich.

Gary L. Nichols Jr., 40, of Norwich pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted assault, a class C felony. Chenango County District Attorney Michael Ferrarese said Nichols has nine other criminal convictions, and that the victims who attempted to stop Nichols from breaking into another person’s vehicle were completely justified in their actions.

According to police, the stabbing occurred at about 2:15 a.m. July 20, 2019 on Plymouth Street in the City of Norwich, after the owner reported an ongoing theft from his parked Cadillac.

Police said one victim was stabbed approximately 10 times with an “orange and camouflaged handle knife." The other victim was bitten in the arm.

Ferrarese said the victims’ actions prevented further harm to the community.

“Your reaction was appropriate, nothing you did was wrong that evening,” Ferrarese told the victims. “It was Mr. Nichols that pulled out a knife and stabbed [them].”