A homeless methamphetamine addict who used a wooden stake to stab a man who tried to give him $5 was sentenced to three years of probation and drug treatment Friday.

For months, Bryan Lloyd Tweed had lived in a tent next to the home of his victim, Scott Combs, in the St. Johns neighborhood of North Portland, according to court records. On Oct. 20, when Combs saw Tweed doing gardening work in a neighborhood yard, he walked up and tried to give Tweed some money, according to a probable cause affidavit.

That’s when Tweed suddenly began screaming, grabbed a wooden stake nearby, snapped it in half and stabbed Combs in the upper thigh and hip area, creating a 1-inch puncture wound that bled profusely, according to investigators. Combs rated his pain a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Tweed ran off but was later found and arrested.

Defense attorney Nedu Nweze said his client told him he was upset because the money got shredded by a lawn mower. Nweze also said his client has a significant drug problem.

Tweed pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree assault.

Tweed will be on probation in the Multnomah County Justice Reinvestment Program, which is designed to keep defendants out of jail or prison and connect them with drug treatment, housing and other necessities that could help stabilize their lives. Tweed also must undergo a mental health evaluation and any ordered treatment.

Combs didn’t attend the hearing but he supports the sentence, said Deputy District Attorney Bumjoon Park.

“He did ask me to say that he wishes the best for Mr. Tweed and that he gets the drug treatment help and the mental health treatment that he needs,” Park told Multnomah County Circuit Judge Kenneth Walker.

If Tweed fails to follow court orders and his probation is revoked, he could be sentenced to 3 ½ to four years in prison.

Tweed has been convicted of drug possession twice and fourth-degree domestic violence assault once.

In this latest attack, Tweed said he was doing yard work for his aunt, but didn’t talk about any other details.

He told the judge he doesn’t want any trouble.

“I’d really like to put this behind me and move forward,” he said.

-- Aimee Green

agreen@oregonian.com

o_aimee

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