A Kent man received a maximum prison sentence of 66 years Friday for three counts of first-degree attempted murder for stabbing three women in 2011 in Des Moines.
Jojo D. Ejonga, 22, was sentenced in King County Superior Court at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
A jury convicted Ejonga in January for the May 2011 knife attack on three unarmed women, one of whom was seven-months pregnant. He faced a sentence range of 51 to 66 years in prison.
Ejonga had been friends with one of the women and her brother. Ejonga was kicked out of their Des Moines home for stealing money from the woman’s mother. Ejonga, claiming he would pay back money he owed for the theft and for damaging her car, met with the woman and two of her friends, but then, without warning, attacked them, according to charging papers.
The assault was so severe that two of the women were hospitalized in critical condition. When one of the women attempted to flee, Ejonga chased after her, and despite her pregnant condition, inflicted more stab wounds to her body. She underwent an emergency C-section and the baby survived.
A woman in her 50s, her daughter in her 20s and a family friend in her 20s were attacked at about 11 p.m. May 8, 2011 in the 23000 block of 30th Avenue South, according to Des Moines Police.
Police arrested Ejonga on May 9, 2011 along South 240th Street near Pacific Highway South. He was taken into custody without incident.
Officers noticed that Ejonga had a cut on his right hand and minor cuts to his face. Officers also observed blood on his shoes and socks, according to court documents. Officers found a cellphone and checkbook that belonged to one of the women in Ejonga’s possession.
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