AUBURN — A Lewiston man charged with stabbing his on-and-off girlfriend has been acquitted of an attempted murder charge but convicted of lesser charges including elevated aggravated assault.

The Androscoggin County Superior Court jury deliberated for almost three hours Tuesday before reaching a verdict in the trial of Cleveland Cruthirds.

The 27-year-old Cruthirds’ lawyer, John Paul DeGrinney, tells the Sun Journal that while satisfied with an acquittal on the most serious charge, he plans to appeal based on what he called a flawed police investigation including the loss of his client’s alibi witness statements.

Authorities alleged Cruthirds stabbed Naomi Swift 21 times in December 2011 because he was angry and jealous she had been in contact with ex-boyfriends. Cruthirds denied attacking Swift.


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