Man Who Attacked Father with Samurai Sword Sentenced to Three Years Probation

An East County man who attacked his then-69-year-old father with a samurai sword over a can of SpaghettiOs was sentenced Thursday to probation and ordered to undergo elder abuse counseling.

John Cahan, 40, pleaded guilty Jan. 31 to elder abuse causing great bodily injury stemming from the attack at his father Allen's house in Spring Valley.

El Cajon Superior Court Judge John Thompson gave the defendant credit for 602 days in custody and placed him on three years probation.

According to authorities, Cahan walked into his father's bedroom around 3 a.m., roused the sleeping victim and angrily demanded that he hold out one of his hands so the defendant could cut it off.

According to testimony at a preliminary hearing, the defendant accused his father of cooking SpaghettiOs, a claim the elder Cahan denied.

John Cahan then swung the sword several times over his father and brought it down, striking the victim in the lower left leg, authorities said.

The defendant called 911 about 90 minutes later, claiming his father had accidentally injured himself while sleepwalking, said San Diego County sheriff's Sgt. Mark Varnau.

Allen Cahan required stitches and surgery to repair the slash wound. There is currently a stay-away order which prevents the son from seeing his father.

–City News Service