Plea Entered in Student’s Stabbing

A Hoover High School student who stabbed a classmate during a dispute over a pay telephone pleaded no contest Tuesday to a reduced charge and was placed on probation.

Glendale Municipal Judge Barbara Burke sentenced Heber Garcia, 18, to two years probation and to pay $725 in fines and court costs, after she reduced the charge against him from felony assault to a misdemeanor.

Garcia was arrested Sept. 18 after stabbing Vahe Bedrosian, 17, on the Hoover campus. The students were arguing over a pay phone when Bedrosian punched and kicked Garcia, who then drew his knife and stabbed his classmate in the stomach, Deputy Dist. Atty. Elizabeth Abbott said.