photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Edgar Oropeza Diaz

Updated at 11 a.m. Monday, April 27

A 30-year-old man who was accused of stabbing another man outside a Lawrence restaurant two years ago was sentenced on Monday to 12 months in prison, suspended to 24 months of probation.

The defendant, Edgar Oropeza Diaz, was originally charged with aggravated battery as a level 4 person felony but pleaded no contest in March to a less serious level 7 person felony. With Oropeza’s lack of criminal history, the crime falls into the presumptive probation category under the Kansas sentencing guidelines.

As the Journal-World reported, police responded just before 9:30 p.m. on May 12, 2024, to El Potro Mexican Cafe, 3333 Iowa St., where two workers from the restaurant had engaged in an argument.

During the argument one of the men, later identified as Oropeza Diaz, reportedly stabbed the other man, leaving wounds on his upper body and face, police said. The victim was taken to an area trauma center with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

Police later located Oropeza Diaz in a parked car near 24th and Ridge Court, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Prosecutor Eve Kemple told Judge Amy Hanley that the victim in the case was satisfied with the plea agreement and chose not to attend Monday’s sentencing hearing.

Oropeza Diaz, who was assisted by a Spanish-speaking interpreter, declined to speak at his sentencing. He has been in the custody of the Douglas County Jail for over two months with a $25,000 cash or surety bond, apparently related to a failure to appear. Jail records also indicate that Oropeza Diaz has an ongoing proceeding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.