CHARLOTTE HALL, Md. — A Silver Spring man is being held without bond after deputies say he stabbed a coworker at a Mechanicsville construction site, later telling police he acted out of frustration over bullying.
Jose Wilbert Herrera-Chavez, 36, was arrested June 6 in connection with a midday stabbing reported at the Sheetz construction site on Three Notch Road. According to court records, St. Mary’s County deputies responded around 4:30 p.m. to MedStar Health Urgent Care, where the victim was being treated for an abdominal stab wound. He was later flown to Capital Region Medical Center by Maryland State Police Aviation.
Due to a language barrier, the victim reportedly used his cell phone to contact his employer for help translating during the interview. He told deputies that both he and Herrera-Chavez were employees of a Silver Spring-based electrical company, and that Herrera-Chavez stabbed him with a knife approximately 5 to 6 inches long. The victim denied that any argument or physical altercation preceded the attack.
Deputies canvassed the job site and spoke with workers. During the investigation, a man wearing a high-visibility vest approached deputies and identified himself as Wilbert. He provided a Maryland driver’s license confirming his full name as Jose Wilbert Herrera-Chavez.
According to charging documents, Herrera-Chavez admitted to the stabbing and said he had been bullied by three coworkers, including the victim. Using the sheriff’s office translation line, Herrera-Chavez said he had been repeatedly insulted, called “fat” and “son of a bitch,” and reached a breaking point. He told deputies the knife—normally used for cutting watermelon—was used to stab the coworker out of anger. He denied being injured himself and claimed the others laughed at him after the incident.
Deputies recovered the knife at the scene. Herrera-Chavez was arrested and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center, where he was charged with first- and second-degree assault.
At a bond review hearing before Judge James Tanavage, he was ordered held without bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 7 in District Court.
If convicted, Herrera-Chavez faces up to 25 years in prison for first-degree assault. Second-degree assault carries a maximum of 10 years and a $2,500 fine.
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Crimes like these should have psych therapy during intake. People should stop being so mean 😒
wah wah wah! Grow up!