Ann Arbor man accused of stabbing mother had assaulted her before, records show

Pocrnich's 49-year-old mother remains in critical condition at the University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor police Det. Bill Stanford said.

Pocrnich is accused of repeatedly stabbing his mother with a knife in the torso at 6 a.m. Wednesday and punching her in the head and body at their home in the 1400 block of Hatcher Crescent, Stanford said.

Officers responded after the woman called 911 to report her son stabbed her, police said. Pocrnich was arrested at the scene without incident.

Asked why Pocrnich allegedly attacked his mother, Stanford said Pocrnich has been diagnosed with a mental illness.

At his arraignment today, Pocrnich told Magistrate Thomas Truesdell that he is single, doesn't have a job and receives $670 a month in Supplemental Security Income.

In October 2005, Pocrnich was sentenced to two years of probation under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act after pleading guilty to assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder, records show.

He assaulted his mother on May 19, 2005 at her home, records say, leaving her with serious injuries, including puncturing both of her lungs. Records show a hockey stick, lamp and box fan were used in that attack. 

Pocrnich later violated his probation and served a year in jail, he said in court today. According to court records, he has been off probation since April 2007.

Magistrate Truesdell ordered that Pocrnich have no contact with his mother. Pocrnich is scheduled to return to 14A-1 District Court for a preliminary hearing on July 28 at 1 p.m.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.