Dustin Crawford, 42, is accused of stabbing a senior Fresno County deputy district attorney Thursday in Courthouse Park. Authorities said Friday that the prosecutor had handled a 2016 criminal case against Crawford. Photo courtesy of Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Photo by Denine Currie

The man accused of stabbing a senior Fresno County prosecutor in Courthouse Park specifically targeted an attorney who had prosecuted him nearly a decade earlier, Fresno County law enforcement officials said Friday.

Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni said security video from Thursday’s attack shows Dustin Crawford, 42, bypassing other people in the park and approaching the prosecutor directly.

“This was a specific targeted act, and even once the act was completed, his actions show that that was the individual that he was going after,” Zanoni said.

Previous case from 2016

Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp said the prosecutor is recovering at home and is expected to make a full recovery. Officials declined to release the attorney’s name Friday.

Smittcamp said the prosecutor handled a 2016 case in which Crawford was initially charged with attempted murder of a neighbor. Crawford pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury and received a five-year prison sentence.

Another former Fresno County prosecutor handled Crawford’s sentencing and was also present in Courthouse Park when Thursday’s stabbing occurred, Smittcamp said.

Crawford’s competency was questioned during the 2016 case, leading to psychological evaluations and treatment at Atascadero State Hospital before he returned to court and entered his plea.

Zanoni said Crawford had been released from prison and was on parole by 2020.

Tulare County DA to try case

The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute the new case to avoid any appearance of impropriety, Smittcamp said. Crawford faces allegations of attempted murder and attempted murder of a public official and was being held on $1 million bail as of Friday.

Officials are also discussing changes to county rules that could allow certain prosecutors and other employees with concealed carry permits to carry firearms in county facilities. Zanoni said the Sheriff’s Office has increased patrol checks in Courthouse Park.