Man to serve 18 months in Iron Bowl stabbing case

Joey Michael Barrett Jr. pleaded guilty Wednesday to stabbing an Auburn University fraternity member and bribing a man to take the blame.

Barrett, 25, of the Mobile area, faced a jury in 2006 on multiple counts of assault after he allegedly stabbed and hit several members of Phi Kappa Tau the night before the 2005 Iron Bowl.

Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob A. Walker declared a mistrial then after prosecutors say Barrett bribed another man to testify that he, not Barrett, assaulted them.

Barrett pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of aggravated assault and one count of bribery. The other charges against him, including six other assault charges and witness tampering, were dropped.

Barrett appeared in court Wednesday in a white prison uniform and smiled reassuringly at family members seated behind him.

On the assault charge, Walker sentenced him to 15 years. Barrett must serve 18 months, followed by probation, and pay $11,579 in restitution. On the bribery charge, Walker sentenced him to five years, of which he must serve one year simultaneously with the other jail time.

Barrett will be allowed to serve his time in the Mobile County jail.

Walker warned him not to stray from rules.

“Understand that even though the state ... is showing you a good bit of mercy by letting you do the split sentence … there is a very long sentence that’s hanging over your head,” Walker said.

District Attorney Nick Abbett and Assistant District Attorney David Glanzer said they were pleased with the outcome.

“I feel we did justice in a very difficult situation,” Abbett said. “… He (pleaded) to the two most serious charges.”

Barrett’s family declined to comment Wednesday, but his attorney Dennis Knizley said his client’s decision was the best at the time.

“... The district attorney provided us some information that would clearly have indicated Mr. Barrett’s culpability in both crimes …” Knizley said. “Once that was clear, his guilt became more apparent, and it was my advice for him to cut his losses.”

Knizley said he thought the sentence was fair and if Barrett had to stand trial for all 12 charges, he could be facing much longer jail time simply waiting for those trials.

“We’ll certainly be glad to get this almost 3-year-old case concluded,” Knizley said. “He’s looking forward to putting this unfortunate episode behind him and being reunited with his family soon.”

Phi Kappa Tau member Brett Villeneau, who saw the 2005 incident from a distance, said he was glad to see the case resolved.

“If this is what it took for him to get time served, that’s OK with me,” Villeneau said.