December 4, 2025 - On Wednesday, Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke announced Daniel James Forgan of Columbia was sentenced on Wednesday to a term of 5 years 4 months plus 7 years to life to be served in State Prison.
On May 13, 2024, the defendant rode his electric bike to pick up mail. When driving by the victim’s residence, he yelled out obscenities. Once he retrieved his mail, he rode back towards his residence and again by the victim’s residence, but this time he stopped. The defendant continued to yell obscenities directing them to a female on the property. At this time, the victim, Gerald James, yelled back to the defendant about yelling at a woman. Mr. James approached the defendant who remained stopped on the road outside of the victim’s property. Mr. James told the defendant to leave. During the trial, Mr. James explained that the defendant leaned towards him and headbutted him to which Mr. James responded by punching the defendant. Mr. James then felt something in his stomach area and later realized he had been stabbed. Mr. James never saw the weapon the defendant used, which ended up being a 14-inch-long knife, similar to a Ka-Bar knife. The defendant had a phone mounted to the front of his bike that was livestreaming up until right after the defendant stabbed Mr. James. The livestream captured audio of the incident as the altercation took place out of view of the camera. Mr. James suffered a lacerated liver and was in the hospital for over a month before he was discharged to a rehabilitation center. Mr. James continues to suffer from complications due to the injury caused by the defendant today. A search warrant was executed at the defendant’s home and ammunition was located, which the defendant was prohibited from possessing due to a restraining order.
The jury trial commenced on November 3, 2025, and concluded on November 5, 2025. During the trial, multiple residents of the community where the defendant and Mr. James lived, testified to the constant issues Mr. Forgan caused, including screaming and yelling at all times of the day and night. In the days leading up to the stabbing, the defendant yelled from his property that he was going to “slice, cut, stab” someone. Mr. Forgan has a documented history of neighbor disputes with another property owner in the area that resulted in the issuance of restraining orders. The defendant testified during the trial and alleged that Mr. James punched him first and that he was defending himself.
The jury rejected the self-defense claims of the defendant and found him guilty of first degree premeditated attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition. The jury also found true allegations that a deadly weapon was used and that the defendant personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victim. The defendant will first serve the determinate term of 5 years 4 months before starting the 7 years to life term.
Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Novelli prosecuted the jury trial. Victim Advocate Tracy Archer supported Mr. James throughout the trial.
Source: Tuolumne County District Attorney