BISMARCK – A Mandan Parish woman charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing another woman with sewing scissors last year was remanded to the state hospital Tuesday, June 25, to avoid facing criminal charges.

Sabrina Kraus was sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison by South Central District Judge Bobbi Weiler. Attorneys for Kraus and Morton County agreed to a prison sentence because Kraus allegedly suffered from a “mental disorder.”

As part of the agreement, several charges will be dropped – aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, disturbing the peace, tampering with evidence and obstructing apprehension – according to Morton County Assistant District Attorney Joshua Breeze. Kraus's agreement includes credit for the 416 days he spent in custody or in the state hospital before Tuesday's trial.

Weiler said the commitment in the defendant's case was appropriate after a previous risk assessment at the state hospital found that Kraus, 53, posed a “danger to the community.”

The risk assessment was conducted after an April hearing in which attorneys determined that Kraus committed attempted murder but was not guilty due to lack of criminal responsibility, Weiler said.

Since her arrest on May 7, 2023, Kraus has been the subject of several court-ordered criminal responsibility and mental health examinations, according to court documents.

State law defines criminal responsibility as a person's ability or inability to understand the consequences of his or her actions. Assessments of this type are sometimes ordered to determine a person's ability to assist in his or her defense in a criminal trial.

“The duration of treatment is determined by the state hospital,” said Weiler.

There will be annual hearings to update the court on Kraus' current status regarding her eligibility for hospital discharge or other court-ordered treatment options.

Defense attorney David Dusek told Weiler that Kraus supported the agreement, which included treatment for her mental health issues and drug addiction.

“She was totally on board with it,” Dusek said. “And is really excited to get it done.”

Charges were filed against Kraus after she allegedly stabbed another woman with sewing scissors in her Mandan apartment in the 200 block of Second Avenue Northeast and then left the scene, an affidavit states. The woman was identified in court during Tuesday's hearing as Kim Huber. Kraus and Huber were neighbors in the apartment building, according to an affidavit.

Huber spoke at the hearing, telling Weiler that while she has “horrific scars all over her body” from the stab wounds Kraus allegedly inflicted on her and that she suffers from anxiety and trust issues as a result of the attack, she was in favor of Kraus being committed.

“I’m glad she’s getting help,” Huber said.

The attack began after Huber ordered Kraus to leave Huber's apartment, the affidavit states. Kraus allegedly stabbed Huber repeatedly with a pair of scissors and then struck him with a piece of wood. Huber attempted to defend himself with a gun, but the gun did not fire and Kraus was able to leave the apartment, at which point Huber locked the door and called 911, the affidavit states.

Huber was taken to Sanford Hospital. Mandan police went to the hospital, where they learned of the attack and Kraus' identity, according to the affidavit.

When Mandan police and detectives arrived at the residence, they attempted to make contact with Kraus, but she refused to comply and told officers she was armed and prepared to use a firearm, the affidavit states.

Kraus' mention of a possible firearm prompted Mandan police to alert the West Dakota SWAT team, the affidavit states. SWAT officers responded, evacuating the apartment building, closing off surrounding streets and setting up a security perimeter while an arrest warrant was obtained.

Kraus was arrested after a standoff that lasted about three hours. Police used a search warrant for the apartment to recover a pair of scissors that matched the pair described by Huber as being used by Kraus in the attack, the affidavit said. The scissors showed signs of having been recently cleaned, and a towel with blood stains was found during the search, the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, no firearms were found in Kraus' apartment.