A Williamsport man was convicted of attempted murder by a Lycoming County jury on Friday afternoon.
Larry Travers, 24, stabbed Kevin Houseknecht in the neck several times on June 17, 2011 in an overgrown lot near the intersection of Glynn Avenue and Arnold Street.
Travers said during an interrogation with city police Agent Stephen Sorage that he planned to steal Houseknect's money and give him a baggie of baking soda, instead of cocaine.
Travers told police that Houseknecht brought the knife to the deal, which was to be conducted in the victim's Plymouth, and that the victim took the first swipe.
"He dropped the knife," Travers said. "I blacked out I beat the heck out of him, I know that."
Witnesses saw Travers stab Houseknecht, who is currently incarcerated at SCI-Rockview on a parole violation, outside of the car in the empty lot.
An envelope containing $2,487 was found in the car where the incident began.
Travers told police that he tried to throw the money back at Houseknecht and to throw the "drugs" out of the car.
"I threw his money back at him," Travers said. "I'm really sorry about this, but I was acting in self-defense."
Asked by police why he threw the drugs away, if they were fake, Travers responded "I don't want to get caught up in some phony drugs doing time for some bogus drugs."
Travers was taken into custody on Linn St. by a state trooper about 20 minutes after the incident.
The jury also convicted Travers of aggravated assault, robbery, theft, receiving stolen property and possessing an instrument of crime.
"He pleaded guilty to the charges this past April, then prior to sentencing he asked the court for permission to withdraw his plea," said District Attorney Eric Linhardt. "As a result of that he was charged with perjury."
The statutory maximum for the attempted homicide count is 10 to 20 years, according to Judge Marc Lovecchio.
