The 19-year-old St. Paul resident convicted of stabbing his cousin the chest following a squabble at a downtown apartment was sentenced to 27 months in prison in Mower County District Court Friday.

Joseph Jay Jolly pleaded guilty March 14 to one count of second-degree assault, which led to the dismissal of a second identical charge. He must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence, or 18 months, and his prohibited from possessing firearms or dangerous weapons for the rest of his life.

According to the criminal complaint, police responded to a Fourth Avenue Northwest apartment around 10:55 p.m. Jan. 30 on accounts of a stabbing involving Jolly and a second male.

The complaint said the victim, Jolly’s cousin, was seated on a flight of stairs leading to the apartment and holding his chest, which sustained a puncture wound near the left lung.

He said Jolly had stabbed him with a four-inch steak knife, which was recovered at the scene, because he’d refused to intervene in a fight between the defendant and a third male, who was gone before police arrived.

Authorities quickly apprehended Jolly near the Austin Municipal Pool, according to the complaint.

The complaint also said the victim suffered a punctured lung, though was stabilized and released from Austin Medical Center.