Pink

ELKINS — A man accused of stabbing a co-worker at a Japanese restaurant last year entered into a plea agreement for unlawful assault Monday.

Shi Span Pink, 49, entered into an Alford plea to one count of unlawful assault, a felony, in Randolph County Circuit Court Monday afternoon. By entering into an Alford plea, Pink did not have to admit to the criminal act and could assert his innocence, but he still accepted the imposition of a sentence.

As part of Pink’s plea, he will be expected to pay restitution and the state will make a recommendation during sentencing.

In October, Pink was initially indicted by the Randolph County Grand Jury on one count of malicious assault, and one count of assault during the commission of a felony, both felonies, and one count of battery, a misdemeanor.

Pink was represented by attorney Haixia Yang, and an interpreter fluent in Mandarin Chinese joined the hearing through video call, as Pink does not speak English. The state was represented by Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Parker. Circuit Court Judge David Wilmoth presided over the case.

Before Wilmoth accepted the agreement, Parker laid out the factual basis for the case against Pink. According to Parker, on Aug. 15, 2025, an argument broke out between Pink and Xue Ying Xheng, another employee at Sakura Japanese Restaurant in Elkins. Pink struck Xheng with a spatula, and when Shu Shuo Chen, the victim in this case and another co-worker of Pink’s, tried to intervene, Pink grabbed a knife and stabbed Chen in the face.

According to the criminal complaint, filed by by Trooper H.J. Bonetti with the West Virginia State Police, the fight was broken up by several off-duty police officers who were eating in the restaurant at the time of the incident on Aug. 15.

Wilmoth asked Pink if what Parker said was accurate, Pink was translated to have said yes. When asked by Wilmoth as to how he plead to the felony charge against him, Pink was translated to have said “I admit.”

Pink is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14 in Randolph County Circuit Court.