Weekend stabbing results from argument over truck

By Carrie A. Mizell

Christopher Autin

A dispute over a vehicle title led one man to stab another in the back with a butcher knife on Sunday afternoon in the northeast section of Trenton.
According to Trenton Police Chief Billy Smith, Christopher Autin, 38, of Trenton called the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office on Monday morning and turned himself in. Autin is now facing one felony count of aggravated battery.
“It’s crazy because the man has no history of violent crime,” Chief Smith said.
While talking with Autin, Chief Smith indicated that the Louisiana native moved to Gilchrist County 9 months ago for a job, which he lost last week.
Though Chief Smith described Autin as “mellow,” the man was anything but on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. when he reportedly stabbed a large butcher knife an inch and a half deep into the back of a Chiefland man.
Though Chief Smith would not identify the victim, as the investigation is ongoing, he did say that the Chiefland resident was at Autin’s home, which is located at 127 NE Rowland Blvd., making the final payment on a pickup truck he was purchasing from Autin.
When the victim asked for the title on the vehicle and Autin could not come up with it, words were exchanged and Autin reportedly stabbed the victim.
According to Chief Smith, Autin later admitted to him that he had a number of loan papers on the vehicle, but he had never had a title for the truck.
After being stabbed in the back, the victim walked to the Smokers Express convenience store and asked the clerk to call 911.
When police and rescue personnel arrived on the scene, the victim was transported to North Florida Regional.
Once treated, the victim stayed overnight for observation, before being released on Monday.
According to Chief Smith, Autin reportedly said that he was not trying to kill the victim when the incident occured.
“There may have been narcotics involved,” Chief Smith said on Tuesday morning. “We are still investigating.”
At press time, Autin was being held at the Gilchrist County Jail.
At first appearance on Tuesday morning, County Judge Ed Philman set Autin’s bail at $60,000.
According to Judge Philman’s order, Philman is to have no contact with the victim or his family. He is to have no possession of weapons and Philman appointed Autin a public defender.