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By Ed Lewis

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William Macblain is escorted from magisterial district court on Thursday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_William-Macblain-7-2-15.jpg.optimal.jpgWilliam Macblain is escorted from magisterial district court on Thursday.

WILKES-BARRE — In a deal that repressed attempted homicide charges from being filed against him, William Macblain — accused of stabbing two people — waived felony assault charges to Luzerne County Court.

Prosecutors were prepared to charge Macblain, 29, with attempting to kill Howard Jakuboski inside 77 Sheridan St., Wilkes-Barre, on May 3.

Jakuboski and his girlfriend, Nicole Schneider, suffered-life threatening injuries when they were allegedly attacked by Macblain.

Under the negotiated deal between Assistant District Attorney Jenny Roberts and Macblain’s attorney, Janan Tallo, Macblain waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday before District Judge Martin Kane, sending four counts of aggravated assault, two counts each of simple assault, reckless endangerment and unauthorized use of a vehicle, and a single count of theft to county court.

With the waiver, prosecutors opted not to charge Macblain with the attempted homicide charge. Macbain remains jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $1 million bail.

Jakuboski told police he had finished smoking a cigarette when his bedroom door flew open and Macbain began stabbing Schneider. Jakuboski came to the aid of Schneider and suffered stab wounds to his head and torso and defensive wounds to his hands, police said.

Schneider suffered slash wounds to her head.

Jakuboski crawled out the front door to summon help from a neighbor and passed out on the porch. He remembered waking up the next day in a hospital.

Jakuboski suffered permanent injuries and is blind in one eye due to the alleged attack.

Macbain took off in Jakuboski’s 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. He crashed on state Route 880 in Greene Township, Clinton County, where he was arrested by state police at Lamar.

Reach Ed Lewis at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TLEdLewis