Cedar Rapids man sentenced to 35 years in prison for trying to kill ex-girlfriend with knife and hammer

CEDAR RAPIDS – A Cedar Rapids man who was convicted by a jury in March of trying to kill his ex-girlfriend when he “lured” her with money to meet him and then “viciously” attacked her with a knife and hammer d’arpa, was sentenced this Tuesday to 35 years in prison.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Justin Lighfoot sentenced Jimmy Prophete, 43, to more prison time than prosecutors recommended because of the “violent and aggravated” nature of the crime, and because he showed no remorse and the premeditated attack involved multiple weapons.

Prophete lured Jasmine Marchales to meet him outside her southwest Cedar Rapids apartment so he could give her money on April 12, 2023, but instead handed her a bank envelope with pieces of paper, cut to look like dollar bills, Lightfoot noted. .

Linn County Assistant District Attorney Molly Edwards and John Bishop, Prophete’s attorney, recommended the sentences run concurrently at up to 25 years in prison.

However, Lightfoot ran the 25-year attempted murder and 10-year malicious wounding sentences consecutively and ran the 2-year domestic abuse assault sentence concurrently for a total of up to 35 years of prison He also ordered a five-year no-contact order against Prophete to protect the victim.

Prophet must serve a mandatory sentence of 17 of the 25 years before he is eligible for parole.

Before the hearing, Lightfoot denied Prophete a new trial, saying the trial evidence “overwhelmingly” established his guilty verdicts for attempted murder, malicious wounding causing serious injury and domestic battery with intent to commit grievous hurt, after a three-day trial. .

Lightfoot said Marchales’ testimony was credible and Prophete’s version of events was “ridiculous, not believable or believable” regarding her claims that Marchales stabbed herself, one of which cut her throat.

Prophete hit Marchales in the head with the hammer and stabbed her several times, Lightfoot said. Marchales was hospitalized for three days, had multiple surgeries, staples and stitches. At the trial, she was still in pain and had visible injuries, he noted.

There was an eyewitness, a neighbor, who testified and had no reason to be untruthful, Lightfoot said. He also noted that the witness said Prophete was wearing a red shirt, which was actually white, but appeared red in the photos because of the blood.

Prophete, who was born and raised in Haiti and had an interpreter during the trial and at the sentencing, wanted to present evidence he said his attorney would not present at trial and repeatedly told the judge he was not guilty.

Judge Lightfoot said he was not going to review all the evidence and that Prophete would have the opportunity to appeal his sentence, but this was not the right time. The purpose of Tuesday’s hearing was to sentence Prophete, Lightfoot said.

At that point, Prophete put his head on the defense table and then tried to throw up, saying he didn’t feel well and couldn’t sit down. Prophete, who was still handcuffed, got up and lay down on the chair in the courtroom.

Lightfoot called for a short recess and Prophete, during the break, finally got up and sat in his chair and the sentence continued.

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