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Hearing canceled, new plea offer extended to Brooklyn man charged in Rome stabbing death

By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Feb 16, 2012 at 2:09 PM EDT

Story Updated: Feb 16, 2012 at 2:30 PM EDT

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Terrence Dames is accused of stabbing Stefan LaPointe to death on a Rome street back in September 2011, and a hearing set for Thursday in the case was canceled so that Dames could consider a new plea offer.

In Oneida County Court in Utica on Thursday, the hearing that had been scheduled was canceled so that Dames can decide on a new plea offer offered by the Oneida County District Attorney's office.

LaPointe was stabbed several times in the stomach, allegedly by Dames, of Brooklyn. Dames has already rejected a plea offer from the District Attorney's office, but this is a new offer, along with a new prosecutor and judge, as well.

The former prosecutor on the case is now working for Judge Barry Donalty as his law clerk, so Donalty could no longer handle the case and it is now assigned to Judge Michael Dwyer.

Dames is due back in Oneida County Court on February 27 to decide on that offer. If he says no, the hearing that was supposed to happen Thursday will happen February 29.

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