A Texas man received the maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars for fatally stabbing a fellow high school student in 2022.

On Monday, Judge Wade Faulkner handed down the maximum sentence to 21-year-old Caysen Allison from Belton County for the death of Jose “Joe” Luis Ramirez Jr, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman.

A jury cleared Allison of murder charges on April 29 following a trial that lasted just over two weeks. Instead, they found him guilty of the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide, leading to a much lighter sentence, with penalties ranging from probation up to a maximum of two years in jail.

On May 27, Faulkner ruled that a deadly weapon was used in the attack, which increased the sentence to 10 years in prison.

As reported earlier by CrimeOnline, prosecutors alleged that Allison, who was 18 at the time, stabbed fellow 18-year-old Ramirez multiple times during an altercation on May 18, 2022, at Belton High School in Belton.

The incident involved Allison, Ramirez, and four other boys inside a school bathroom. Ramirez had previously confronted Allison during an after-prom party after accusing Allison of behaving aggressively toward a friend’s date. The pair agreed to fight at a later time, off-campus, but bumped into each other in the bathroom beforehand.

Ramirez said that if they were going to fight, they should go ahead and fight in the bathroom, according to witness testimony. Witnesses also said the bathroom brawl was not planned, and that Allison said he did not want to fight before Ramirez threw a punch at him.

Allison then stabbed Ramirez in the chest, arms and buttocks.

“I was just trying to protect myself,” Allison later told police.

The victim’s family erupted in cheers after hearing the sentence, but Ramirez’s mother, Amanda Rios, said the sentence was light compared to a life without her child.

“Nothing will ever change this reality,” Rios said. “He will get to go on and live his life. My son, on the other hand, will not.”

When Allison’s lawyers claimed that Allison would also have to “live with this,” Rios  responded, “He has to deal with it because of his own choices. I didn’t make him do it.”

When questioned if she was seeking revenge over justice, Rios shes, “Vengeance isn’t for me to seek; it’s for God,” before addressing Caysen directly.

“You may have received a 10-year sentence, but I face a lifetime without my son.”

[Feature Photos: Joe Ramirez/Handout; Caysen Allison/Benton County PD]]