Crystalyn Dixie Knuth was sentenced on Tuesday in the Delta County 47th Circuit Court. (Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press)

ESCANABA — An Escanaba woman has been sentenced after pleading guilty to assault in connection with an August 2025 stabbing.

In February, Crystalyn Dixie Knuth pleaded guilty to one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation – punishable by a sentence of 10 years or $5,000.

Delta County 47th Circuit Court Judge John Economopoulos sentenced Knuth on Tuesday to three to 10 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections, with credit for 259 days already served. She was also ordered to pay $258 in fines and fees.

Knuth’s attorney, Jennifer J. France, addressed Economopoulos on Tuesday before the sentencing, asking the judge to consider Knuth’s mental health history before sentencing.

France further expressed concerns over the conditions inmates are subjected to while incarcerated at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, where — if sentenced to prison time — Knuth would spend her sentence.

“Putting her in prison at Women’s Huron Valley could be, and I’m not trying to sound dramatic, but a death sentence right now. They have black mold going through that entire prison right now, and that there are women dying from lung cancer in prison. The bar as a whole is trying with the legislature to shut down Women’s Huron Valley. They have scabies going around. The STDs are unbelievable.”

France added, “They’re paying their time, and to put her in prison is cruel and unusual punishment when the prison isn’t even fit for animals, and we want to put humans in there. And now let’s put someone in there that has a significant mental health history. Well, that’s clearly setting her up for failure.”

Economopoulos noted Knuth’s criminal history was “small, comparatively non-existent when looked at against this offense.”

“Now, that having been said, this offense was an unspeakable act,” Economopoulos continued. “It was something that redefined your place in your community and whether you even belong in your community, given your conduct. The pre-sentence investigative report reads like a horror movie.”

The judge further referred to the victim in the case, stating, “As far as cruel and unusual punishment goes, I look at the victim, in this case, [victim’s name], cruel and unusual punishment, for not only enduring your outrageous conduct, but the physical manifestations…”

Knuth’s sentencing stems from a stabbing incident that occurred the morning of Aug. 11, 2025, in Fairview Estates, 1401 N. 23rd St. in Escanaba.

Escanaba Public Safety (EPS) officers were dispatched at approximately 7:32 a.m. for a report of a stabbing in progress. Officers found the victim with numerous stabbed wounds at a neighbor’s residence, according to a news release. The victim was immediately transported to OSF St. Francis Hospital.

According to statements in court, Knuth held two knives – one in each hand – while stabbing the victim, saying, “You’re going to f***ing die, b****, you wanted to be here so bad, now you’re never going to leave.”

Knuth then reportedly blocked the door to the bedroom they were in to prevent the victim from leaving. The victim eventually ran to their neighbor’s house.

Statements in court also reflect the fact that Knuth had been using cocaine prior to the stabbing.

An EPS news release posted the day after the incident stated the victim “is in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries,” although her injuries were referred to as requiring “serious medical treatment” in court.

Knuth was reported having left the site in a blue SUV but turned herself in to EPS on Aug. 11 while officers were still at the Fairview Estates residence. She was questioned and later transported to OSF St. Francis Hospital for additional treatment.

Judge Steve Parks of the Delta County 94th District Court granted Knuth a competency exam in September 2025, after which an examiner at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Saline, Mich., found Knuth was competent to stand trial.

As part of Knuth’s plea agreement, Delta County Prosecuting Attorney Lauren Wickman agreed not to pursue additional charges against Knuth, which include but are not limited to felonious assault or assault with intent to murder.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.