The suspect in two stabbings last weekend -- including one that killed a man -- had pleaded guilty in June to menacing a person with a knife.
13 WHAM reports suspect Black Jewelz could have gone to jail after his plea, but his case was diverted to drug and mental health court -- and he was allowed to go free.
Jewelz finished nine years in prison last fall for a robbery and drug conviction. And 13 WHAM reports he was arrested three times after his release and before last weekend's stabbings.
He is now charged with second-degree murder for the stabbing death of David Oquendo.