P-J file photo by Eric Tichy

A Jamestown man pleaded guilty late last week to a reduced charge of second-degree manslaughter in the July 2020 fatal stabbing of another person.

Carl W. Sorenson will spend between five to 10 years in prison on an indeterminate sentence already agreed upon between his attorney, Chautauqua County Public Defender Ned Barone, and the Cattaraugus County District Attorney’s Office that handled the case.

The 30-year-old Sorenson was indicted in August 2020 on a second-degree murder charge and faced up to life in prison if convicted for the killing of Brandon Holland. Second-degree manslaughter, a class C felony, carries a maximum sentence up to 15 years in state prison.

Sorenson entered the guilty plea to the reduced charge Friday in county court.

Holland, 23, was stabbed in the chest around 10:30 p.m. July 6, 2020, as he walked along North Main Street in Jamestown. He was taken to UPMC Chautauqua but later pronounced dead.

Sorenson was taken into custody at his Washington Street apartment the following day.

Barone said he was satisfied with the reduced charge, which brings a resolution to the case before it could go to trial.

“Mr. Sorenson had maintained from the very beginning that he was innocent to the intentional murder charge,” Barone told The Post-Journal. “In addition, the sentence … is appropriate since it was a ‘reckless’ set of circumstances that led to the unfortunate death of another individual.”

Police believe the stabbing incident was targeted and not a random act of violence. No further details, including a motive, have been provided in the case.

Sorenson has remained in Chautauqua County Jail on $350,000 cash bail since July 2020.

The Cattaraugus County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the plea.