Woman accused of stabbing woman, deputy with pen

BELLEVILLE -- An East St. Louis woman is accused of using a pen to stab a woman she blamed for losing a child-custody case, along with the sheriff's deputy who intervened.

St. Clair County prosecutors have charged 37-year-old Farina Larkin with two felony counts of aggravated battery and one count of resisting a peace officer.

The attack happened a week ago, while a reportedly crying and screaming Larkin was being escorted out of a Belleville courtroom after the judge ruled against granting her custody of a child.

In the hallway, Larkin apparently stabbed the female victim repeatedly and punched her, then stabbed the intervening deputy on an arm.

None of the injuries required hospitalization.

Larkin is jailed on $50,000 bond.