A sentencing hearing for a Shawnee man found guilty of stabbing his wife twice last summer was rescheduled Tuesday afternoon.

Navinkumar Patel, 46, was arrested in late June of 2015 after he stabbed his wife in the abdomen at Lawrence’s Super 8 Motel, 515 McDonald Drive, which he owns. Patel pleaded no contest to felony charges of attempted second-degree murder and criminal threats in March.

Navinkumar Patel

After accepting his plea, Douglas County District Court Judge Robert Fairchild ordered the completion of a pre-sentence investigation and ordered Patel committed to Larned State Hospital for a mental health evaluation before he is sentenced.

Since his arrest several several court hearings have been rescheduled because Patel, a native of India, requires an interpreter to translate courtroom proceedings.

Tuesday’s sentence hearing was rescheduled because Larned State Hospital has not yet completed its evaluation of Patel, said Assistant Douglas County Attorney C.J. Rieg.

Patel is now scheduled to appear in court on June 20 at 4 p.m.

Depending on Patel’s criminal history, he could face as much as 22 years in prison.