Idaho man charged in beating, encouraging toddler to stab mom, takes deal

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BURLEY — A Burley man accused of beating a woman on Thanksgiving and forcing her toddler to help stab her with a knife has taken a plea deal with the state.

David James Gifford, 37, has pleaded guilty to one felony count of domestic violence. In return, the Cassia County Prosecutor’s Office will dismiss an enhancement charge for committing the crime in the presence of a child and felony charges of injury to a child and attempted strangulation, the Times-News reported.

Cassia County Deputy Prosecutor McCord Larsen said his office will recommend Gifford be sent to the state’s retained jurisdiction program, known as a rider. It’s a therapeutic program run by the Idaho Department of Correction. If he fails the program, a judge could sentence him to three to 10 years in prison, the plea agreement said.

Under the terms of the agreement, Gifford’s attorney is free to request a different sentence.

The victim in the case testified in a prior hearing that Gifford attacked her by punching, strangling and kicking her until she lost consciousness. She said he stabbed her several times with a steak knife then gave a knife to her toddler and got him to stab her also.

The woman said Gifford held her down while the 2-year-old boy stabbed at her stomach several times but did not penetrate the skin. She said Gifford then flipped her over and told the boy to stab her again. Then, Gifford and the boy were both stabbing her in the back using different pressures.

Gifford is scheduled to be sentenced July 3 in Cassia County District Court.