LA PLATA, MD—On June 10, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Makeba Gibbs sentenced James Mark Kimble, 39, of Mechanicsville, to 15 years in prison for First-Degree Assault and Wear and Carry of a Dangerous Weapon with the Intent to Injure, according to Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County. The sentencing follows Kimble’s conviction by a Charles County jury on April 29, 2025, for the stabbing of a man in La Plata on December 27, 2023.
Kimble will serve 15 years of a 20-year sentence for First-Degree Assault, with five years suspended, and a concurrent three-year sentence for the weapons charge. Upon release, he faces five years of supervised probation. Violating probation terms could result in an additional five years in prison.
The incident occurred on December 27, 2023, when officers responded to a report at University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata. The victim, who drove himself to the emergency room, told police he was stabbed by Kimble after dropping off a mutual acquaintance at Cooksey Store in La Plata. The victim sustained serious injuries requiring medical treatment.
According to the investigation, the victim had agreed to give the mutual acquaintance a ride to her parents’ house on the evening of December 27, 2023. During the ride, the acquaintance requested a different destination, leading to a verbal argument. While still in the victim’s vehicle, the acquaintance contacted Kimble. The victim then drove to Cooksey Store to drop her off. After she exited, Kimble entered the passenger side of the victim’s vehicle and stabbed the victim multiple times. As the victim drove away to escape, Kimble fled the scene with the acquaintance.
Kimble later admitted to consuming phencyclidine (PCP), marijuana, and alcohol prior to the attack. During the sentencing hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jerome Linkins requested a 20-year prison term, highlighting Kimble’s history of substance abuse and violence. Linkins told the court, “Kimble has a history of drinking and a history of violence. He commits crimes of selfishness and recklessness against other people. There’s no excuse for this behavior. Absolutely none. Not only has [Kimble] done multiple acts of selfishness, but he’s also affected this person’s life for no reason. – The victim’s life has completely changed.”
The prosecution emphasized the impact on the victim, noting that the unprovoked attack altered his life significantly. The victim’s injuries, sustained during the sudden assault, required immediate medical attention, and the emotional toll of the incident persists.
Covington’s office underscored the severity of the crime, pointing to Kimble’s substance use and prior behavior as aggravating factors. The court’s decision to impose a 15-year active sentence reflects the gravity of the offense, with the additional probation period aimed at ensuring compliance with legal and behavioral standards post-release.
