Willmar man pleads to charge in stabbing incident

WILLMAR -- A 21-year-old Willmar man pleaded guilty Monday to a third-degree assault charge for stabbing a juvenile male on Jan. 15.

As part of a plea agreement, a second-degree as-sault charge against David Hernandez will be dismissed and he will pay restitution. He will be sentenced June 24.

The charges were filed after Willmar police officers were called around 9:15 p.m. Jan. 15 to the emergency room at Rice Memorial Hospital.

A juvenile male, who was being treated there for a stab wound to his arm, said he had been stabbed by Hernandez during an argument over a woman.

He said Hernandez had also attempted to stab him in the chest.

Officers spoke with the woman and another woman, who said the alleged victim and Hernandez had argued and got into a fist fight. They said Hernandez then stabbed the young man with a knife and ran off.

Another police officer had contact with Hernandez soon after the stabbing near the residence and Hernandez was searched. The officer found the knife, but Hernandez was allowed to leave because police had yet to receive the stabbing report.