"I have to look at the facts, which are horrendous," Fresno County Superior Court Judge Jonathan Conklin said.
The judge ordered Action News not to show Samuel Rodriguez's face in court after his attorney objected. The man is now convicted of attempted murder, burglary and assault.
"Being attacked in the safety of your own home is not something that anyone should have to undergo," prosecutor Matthew Hamilton said.
Rodriguez was on post-prison supervision when he broke into a Fresno County home and stabbed a stranger, investigators say, "without any provocation."
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"Mr. Rodriguez does suffer from a history of mental health issues, including his diagnosed schizophrenia, which I believe played a large role in this case," public defender Deidre Adams said.
But the victim pushed back, calling it "absurd" to believe the defense's argument.
For several moments, the victim recounted the attack in a passionate statement they requested Action News not show.
They described Rodriguez as a "demon" and said it was a "savage beating" that left them with permanent pain, a torn retina, and a broken nose.
The victim is now too triggered to reenter the room where the attack unfolded, and said Rodriguez turned their slice of heaven in Fresno County into what they described as "Hell on Earth."
"I can't imagine what you went through," Judge Conklin said. "To have to suffer through that is indescribable, and you've done an admirable job describing it."
The victim pushed for a longer sentence, but the judge explained he is limited by the law.
"The sentence is going to be that 19 years and eight months, and there's really no way I can get above that," Judge Conklin said.
The victim noted that Rodriguez will be about 57 years old when he is released from prison, an age the victim believes is still young enough to pose an extreme risk to society.
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