Posted: Apr. 27, 2015 9:39 pm Updated: May. 11, 2015 9:50 pm

By DON O'BRIEN

Staff Writer | 217-221-3370

dobrien@whig.com | @DOBrienWHIG

QUINCY -- A Quincy woman who admitted to stabbing her husband during an incident at their residence last year was sentenced to probation on Monday.

Judge William Mays had a hard time deciding whether to send Heather M. Riley, 37, to prison. She had pleaded guilty to aggravated domestic battery after she used a knife to stab her husband, Jason L. Riley, 41, in his left shoulder during an incident on Oct. 4 at their residence at 1606 Van Buren. As part of her plea agreement, Riley could have been sent to prison for up to four years. She was eligible for probation, but Mays was upset that she had not done what was asked of her when she was previously on probation.

"There is no good answer to the question of what should happen to you, Ms. Riley," Mays said. "You're lucky you're not sitting there facing a murder or a manslaughter charge. If you had been an inch or two one way or the other, he could be dead right now."

Mays sentenced her to 24 months probation and 180 days in the Adams County Jail. He ordered her to spend 90 days in jail and stayed the rest of her jail time.

"You're on the edge, Ms. Riley," Mays said.

He told her she had to abide by all of the provisions of probation, or he would revoke the probation and send her to prison.

On the night of the incident, Jason Riley was found by police lying on the ground with a stab wound to his left shoulder, according to Assistant State's Attorney Anita Rodriguez. He told police he had fallen on the knife, and he was taken to Blessing Hospital to repair an artery in his left shoulder, Rodriguez said.

Jason Riley addressed the court at the start of the hearing, saying his wife needs help and that he was trying to stop her from killing herself.

Rodriguez asked Mays to send Heather Riley to prison, citing her lack of cooperation with the Probation Department.

"She has done very little to help herself," Rodriguez said. "It appears that the Probation Department has been working a lot harder on her issues than she has. The harm she caused here was substantial."

Defense attorney Dennis Woodworth said his client was "crying out for help," noting she has mental health issues and substance abuse issues that need to be addressed.

Riley said she would never physically hurt anyone while reading from a hand-written statement. She said she was trying to commit suicide when her husband stopped her. She said she would never maliciously stab her husband. She pointed out that her husband has been at all of her court appearances, including her first appearance two days after the incident.

"We're trying to rebuild our lives," she said.

Riley has been free since posting $2,000 bond on Oct. 6. She was taken into custody after the hearing. She will be released from jail for work and any medical appointments. She also was ordered to pay $50,738.38 in restitution.