A Lancaster man will serve up to 40 years in prison for stabbing a woman at least 15 times – his second conviction regarding violence with a knife.
Israel Polanco-Cano, 35, was convicted at trial last year of attempted murder and aggravated assault regarding the Oct. 2, 2015, attack in the 500 block of Howard Avenue.
Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn recently ordered Polanco-Cano serve 16 to 40 years in prison.
First Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Larsen called Polanco-Cano a “menace to society” who was paroled from prison five weeks before the Howard Avenue attack.
Polanco-Cano served over a year in prison for stabbing a man in a line for a free meal at a city church in 2013.
In the Howard Avenue incident, it is unclear why Polanco-Cano stabbed the woman in the head, back, chest, and arms.
That lack of motive, Larsen told the judge, made the incident even more frightening. Polanco-Cano needs to be removed from the streets, Larsen said.
Lancaster city police Detective Robert Whiteford filed charges.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright