A Hutchinson man who was charged with attempted first degree murder and stalking, but entered a plea in the case to a less severe charge of aggravated battery was scheduled for sentencing again Thursday, but once again was continued.

Franklin Williams of 901 East 12th, entered a plea back in May to aggravated battery, stalking and two counts of making a criminal threat, which was part of an amended complaint filed by the state as part of a plea agreement with the defense.

The defense in the case asked that Williams be sent to Larned for his pre-sentence investigation and apparently that was complete.

The reason for the delay Thursday, according to Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton, was because the victim was unable to be present. He says she has a right to be there to address the court if she chooses to do so.
Williams was found guilty of attacking 29-year-old Dawn Smith in the parking lot of her residence causing numerous wounds to her head. She was injured bad enough that she taken to a Wichita hospital where she at one point was listed in serious condition because of her wounds. The attack occurring on January 26, of last year in the 100 block of East A.

Williams is looking at a sentencing range of 38-172 months in prison for the aggravated battery conviction, and an additional 5-7 months for each of the other three counts. Stanton didn’t have a new date for sentencing, but believes it will next week sometime.

Williams has prior convictions including attempted murder, aggravated battery and attempted kidnapping out of Sedgwick County.