Former Rochester Man Given Aggravated Sentence For 2002 Stabbing

Get our free mobile app

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - An Olmsted County judge has imposed a sentence exceeding state sentencing guidelines for a robbery and knife attack in Rochester two years ago.

41-year-old Bashir Addullahi Farah waived his right to a jury trial last summer and was found guilty of first-degree aggravated robbery and second-degree assault in connection with a stabbing that occurred at an apartment in southeast Rochester on April 5, 2022.

Pattanaphong Khuankaew

The criminal complaint says Rochester police officers were sent to the residence to investigate a report of disorderly conduct and heard a man yelling for help when they arrived. After entering the apartment, the officers found a man leaning against a wall with blood on his shirt face.

The court document says he told officers his attacker was hiding in the apartment and Farah was found hiding in a bedroom closet.

The charges stated that the victim told investigators that he had been invited by Farah to come to the apartment to sell cannabis. After waiting for the person who was supposed to bring the money, the victim indicated that he eventually got up to leave and was attacked.

According to the criminal complaint, Farah stabbed the victim in the face and shoulder while another person went through his pockets searching for money. It was about that time that the Rochester police officers arrived and knocked on the door.

Getty Images

Farah was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was given credit for the 618 days he had already spent in jail.

Court records show Farah has an extensive criminal history dating back to 2001. He has multiple felony convictions for crimes that include attempted aggravated robbery, assaulting a police officer, theft, drug offenses, felony assault, and stalking.

More Minnesota News: