Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Brutal Knife Attack in Stone County

Hattiesburg, MS (WHPM) – A Hattiesburg man will spend the next two decades behind bars after a violent knife attack in Stone County that nearly turned deadly.

44-year-old Kristian Lee Aultman has been sentenced to the maximum—20 years in prison—for a brutal aggravated assault that happened back in September 2022.

The attack took place along Magnolia Road in the Lumberton community. Investigators say Aultman used a box-cutter-style knife to repeatedly slash a woman, leaving her with deep cuts to her neck. She managed to escape and ran to a neighbor’s home for help.

Aultman was arrested not long after. Deputies found him walking along Highway 26 with blood on his face and the weapon still in his pocket.

During sentencing, Circuit Judge Christopher Schmidt described the case as one of the most severe he’s seen outside of a homicide.

District Attorney Crosby Parker praised the teamwork between law enforcement and medical crews, and credited the victim for her courage. Her testimony helped secure the conviction and ensure Aultman was held accountable.