Box Cutter Allegedly Pulled During Lexington Park Confrontation Over Infidelity

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — Joseph Monroe Cooper Jr., 32, of Lexington Park, has been charged with first-degree assault and second-degree assault in connection with a November incident.

According to St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office reports, deputies responded to the Ollies on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park on Nov. 28, 2025, for a reported assault. Three witnesses and a victim were standing on the sidewalk when deputies arrived, and each was interviewed separately.

Court documents show one witness stated that a verbal argument occurred between the victim and Cooper regarding an alleged affair involving the victim’s wife. The argument reportedly escalated, and the men began walking toward each other. The witness told deputies she attempted to hold Cooper back from approaching the victim, but could not hold him back. She stated that this was when Cooper allegedly pulled out a red box cutter.

Police reports state deputies spoke with the victim, who said he and Cooper were arguing over Cooper allegedly having an affair with the victim’s wife. The victim told deputies that Cooper allegedly pulled out the box cutter and that he believed Cooper was going to harm him with it.

Police reports and witness statements state Cooper fled into a wooded area behind Ollie’s following the altercation. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses reportedly corroborated the witnesses’ accounts. Deputies located Cooper in the woods, where he allegedly refused to answer questions beyond a spontaneous statement acknowledging he had been in an argument and was in possession of a knife.

Cooper was taken into custody and held without bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 30, 2025, in St. Mary’s County District Court.

Under Maryland law, first-degree assault carries a maximum penalty of 25 years of incarceration, while second-degree assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years of incarceration and a $2,500 fine.

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