Judge rejects plea deal for Murrysville man in mother's stabbing

A Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday rejected a plea bargain for a Murrysville man accused of the attempted murder of his mother.

Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger said the deal that would have allowed Andrew J. Farbarik to plead guilty to lesser charges and serve four years on probation was inconsistent with other cases where prosecutors insisted on jail time for defendants with mental health issues who are accused of violence.

Police said Farbarik, 32, stabbed his mother two times during an argument Feb. 27 at her home. Lisa Farbarik testified Tuesday she was not seriously injured and did not feel threatened by her son, who she said suffers from mental illness.

“I can appreciate a mother’s love for her son but the fact she didn’t feel threatened means she didn’t see the knife. Two stab wounds in the shoulder means she was in danger. I cannot be sold on this (plea) today,” Krieger said.

The proposed deal pitched by prosecutors called for Farbarik to plead guilty to misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment and simple assault. Felony charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault would have been dismissed.

Assistant District Attorney Anthony Iannamorelli said Farbarik had been diagnosed and was under a doctor’s care for schizophrenia when a change in his medication led to the destabilization of his mental health and ultimately the attack on his mother.

“This will be a difficult case to try,” Iannamorelli said. “The victim will say she wasn’t threatened, and her injuries weren’t significant.”

According to court records, Farbarik told police he retrieved a knife and stabbed his mother after seeing her with scissors.

A defense-hired psychologist, who in numerous other cases served as district attorney’s office mental health expert, determined Farbarik was not a threat to himself or the community, according to prosecutors.

Defense lawyer Michael Machan said Farbarik has no prior criminal record and has the support of his mother and other family members.

“His has been treated for this and his level of medication was not proper. His mother said he never had issues like this before,” Machan told the judge.

Krieger said he will review a report on Farbarik’s mental health prior and hear testimony from experts at a yet-to-be scheduled hearing and could reconsider the proposed plea deal.