Hesperia man gets five years for stabbing

VICTORVILLE • A Hesperia man was sentenced to five years in state prison Tuesday for a stabbing that authorities believe was a gang initiation for a white supremacist group.

Kyle Lee Smither, 21, accepted the prosecution’s offer and pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder. Victorville Superior Court Judge Lynn Poncin accepted the plea agreement and sentenced him immediately.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials said the victim was chosen at random and had no ties to any of the three men involved in the attack.

Smither and Mark Edward Block were arrested Jan. 19 for the attack, in which Smither’s brother was accidentally stabbed, officials said.

Block — who was recently released from prison and reportedly has ties to a white supremacy gang — learned Smither’s brother had gotten a gang tattoo and became upset since the brother hadn’t earned it, sources close to the investigation said.

They drove down 10th Avenue near Eucalyptus Street in Hesperia and spotted a Hispanic man in his 50s working in his front yard and, according to sources, the brothers jumped out of the vehicle and attacked the man, stabbing him several times and slashing his throat.

During the incident, Smither accidentally slashed his brother’s leg, causing the attacker to bleed profusely. Smither's younger brother was taken to a local hospital where he was last listed in stable condition.

Prosecutors said there wasn’t enough independent evidence to charge Block or the injured Smither brother, but said if new information comes out, that could change.

The victim's condition was not released, although authorities said he is expected to survive.

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