MURRIETA – A 25-year-old Wildomar man who stabbed his best friend during a brawl that erupted during a party at his home was sentenced Tuesday to 11 years in state prison.

Joseph James Sawicki, who had several previous convictions, could have faced a maximum of 19 years behind bars.

In sentencing the defendant, Judge F. Paul Dickerson said he would not, under any circumstances, grant probation. The judge noted that the defendant's case falls under the “three strikes” law, and said the “court finds the defendant consistently has the inability to live within the law,” according to the court minutes.

Sawicki has prior convictions for discharging a firearm, possessing drugs for sale, furnishing a minor under 14 with marijuana, and sex with an underage girl when he was 18.

In the latest case, Sawicki was convicted in March of attempted involuntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon. The nine-woman, three-man jury acquitted him of attempted murder.

Jurors said they felt Sawicki was provoked into acting violently –because a brawl had erupted in his kitchen – but he did not have the premeditated thought to kill his friend, David Matthews.

The 27-year-old victim was stabbed when he stepped in front of Sawicki to keep him from hurting those who were involved in the melee, according to trial testimony.