A Morgan Hill man described by his acquaintances as a decorated
Marine declined to enter a plea to accusations that he tried to
kill the father of his girlfriend.
A Morgan Hill man described by his acquaintances as a decorated Marine declined to enter a plea to accusations that he tried to kill the father of his girlfriend.
Anthony Hernandez, 23, was scheduled to plead to a charge of attempted murder Tuesday. His private attorney, Brandt Brauer, requested a delay in the plea hearing until May 25, which Superior Court Judge Ray Cunningham granted.
The hearing Tuesday was Brauer’s first in the case, as Hernandez was previously represented by the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office.
Hernandez is still in custody with no bail, according to Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Amy Cornell. He sat still and quietly in court during Tuesday’s hearing. He stood and faced the judge when his case was called.
Hernandez was arrested the night April 29 by Morgan Hill police, who said he stabbed Matthew Benoit, 36, seven times in the back and then pointed a hand gun at him.
The incident occurred at the Villa Teresa apartment complex on Cordova Court, in northwest Morgan Hill.
Police say after Hernandez stabbed Benoit, cutting a major artery, he retrieved a .45-caliber hand gun from his car and pointed it at him, but did not shoot him.
Hernandez and the victim knew each other prior to the incident, police said. Police think they were arguing about the suspect’s relationship with his girlfriend before the stabbing.
The apartment complex manager, Irene Kavros, said Hernandez and his 18-year-old girlfriend moved into their apartment together a few months ago. She said Hernandez was polite in her interactions with him.
A group of male and female acquaintances of Hernandez’, who declined to identify their relationship with the defendant, were in court to support him Tuesday. Following the hearing, a man who said he was Hernandez’ friend said the defendant is “a decorated Marine,” and he acted in self-defense.
Brauer declined to comment on the details of the case, and said he is still reviewing the evidence.
If convicted, Hernandez faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison, Cornell said.
