1 of 3 charged in fatal stabbing at party makes manslaughter plea deal

<p>One of three young men charged with murder in a 2007 stabbing at a west Santa Rosa party has agreed to a manslaughter plea bargain that likely will send him to prison for six years instead of life.</p><p>Alex Hopper, 21, agreed Friday to plead no contest to one count of manslaughter when prosecutors dropped charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Murder and three other assault charges will be dismissed at Hopper's sentencing, according to court documents.</p><p>Judge Ken Gnoss indicated he would sentence Hopper to the mid-range term of six years in prison for the manslaughter count, with a weapons enhancement to run concurrently. Hopper is to be sentenced Jan. 20.</p><p>Santa Rosa police arrested Hopper, Donald Bittner, 20, and another man after the Dec. 15 stabbing death of Benjamin Floriani, 21, during an alcohol-fueled brawl at a party attended by dozens of young people in a west Santa Rosa town house.</p><p>After a lengthy preliminary hearing over the summer at which several young witnesses admitted lying or being drunk or high, Gnoss dismissed all charges against the third man arrested, Matthew O'Day.</p><p>Gnoss also dismissed the murder charge against Bittner, ruling that the evidence implicated him only in connection with a possible assault but not Floriani's stabbing.</p><p>Though evidence was conflicting, Gnoss said there was enough to hold Hopper for trial on murder charges. He said the truth of self-defense assertions made by Hopper would be up to a jury to evaluate.</p><p>Although none of the three defendants was identified as having stabbed Floriani, prosecutors charged them all with murder under the aiding-and-abetting theory, which can hold an entire group responsible for a crime committed by one.</p><p>Witnesses said Hopper had been in a verbal altercation with one of Floriani's friends and that a man with similar appearance, dark skin with hair in a ponytail, fought and possibly stabbed another of Floriani's friends during the melee.</p><p>Hopper and Bittner's attorneys contended their clients were defending themselves. Floriani was seen pointing a gun at people and bragging during the party.</p><p>Bittner is seeking to have the assault case against him dismissed on Wednesday.</p><p>A fourth man, Noah Minuskin, was charged with a felony accessory charge. He is due in court next week for a possible plea agreement, according to court documents.</p><p>Staff Writer L.A. Carter can be contacted at 568-5312 and lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com.</p>