Two Stabbed in Apparent Mullica Robbery Attempt

Friday, June 27 2008 @ 11:19 am EDT

Contributed by: CBrining

From the Atlantic City Press Published: Friday, June 27, 2008

By ERIC SCOTT CAMPBELL Staff Writer, 609-272-7227

MULLICA TOWNSHIP - Two farm workers are recovering from stab wounds, a third has been arrested and a fourth man is at large after an attempted roadside robbery Thursday afternoon in the Nesco section of the township, police said.

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Hammonton residents Roberto Ordonez, 22, and Hiberto Perez, 19, were walking with another man down the 3000 block of Nesco Road at about 12:15 p.m. when two men emerged from the woods across the street and demanded money, police said. The three refused.

Jose L. Perez, a 22-year-old unrelated to the younger victim, stabbed Ordonez and Hiberto Perez, cutting both men in the arms and Ordonez in his face and chest, police said. Blood spattered the pavement.

The victims' unidentified companion rushed into nearby Nesco Liquor Store. An employee called 911. Jose L. Perez hid in the woods, then walked out later as Hammonton emergency personnel treated the victims. Police arrested him.

The other suspect has not been identified or caught. He was described as a short man in his 20s wearing a red shirt.

Nothing was stolen from the three men, who live and work on a Hammonton blueberry farm, police said. Jose L. Perez carried a North Carolina farm worker identification. Ordonez was airlifted to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, where he was listed in fair condition early in the evening. (The Nesco Fire Company handled the landing zone) Hiberto Perez was treated at Kessler Memorial Hospital in Hammonton, then transferred to Cooper Medical Center in Camden. His condition is unknown.

Jose L. Perez faces charges of robbery, aggravated assault and conspiracy and is being held in the Atlantic County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. He also faces deportation as an illegal immigrant.

The wooded area near the crime scene is thick and strewn with dozens of beer cans; police believe it is a makeshift camping area.

Township police urged witnesses to call 609-965-1200 or 609-561-7600.

To e-mail Eric Scott Campbell at The Press:ECampbell@pressofac.com

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Police Seek 2nd Suspect in Mullica Stabbings

From the Atlantic City Press Published: Saturday, June 28, 2008

By EMILY PREVITI Staff Writer, 609-272-7221

MULLICA TOWNSHIP - One victim in a double stabbing was released from the hospital Friday, officials said. As one suspect sat in jail on $100,000 bail, Mullica Township Police continued to search for a second one, Det. Sgt. John Thompson said.

Roberto Ordonez, 22, was in good condition at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, according to hospital personnel.

Ordonez and two companions, all farm workers from Hammonton, were stabbed Thursday afternoon on the 3000 block of Nesco Road after refusing to give money to two men attempting to rob them; the perpetrators fled after stabbing Ordonez in his face, chest, and arms and one of his friends in the arms, authorities said.

Jose L. Perez, 22, surrendered to police after they arrived with medical personnel to the scene. He was charged with robbery, aggravated assault and conspiracy, and faces deportation.

Thompson said Friday that police do not know whether Perez's accomplice actually stabbed Ordonez and one of his friends, whom police identified as 19-year-old Hiberto Perez, unrelated to the alleged perpetrator. Cooper University Hospital spokeswoman Lori Schaffer said that Perez was discharged, but that he was actually a juvenile.

Thompson was not able to clarify the second victim's identity before press time, nor did he respond to inquiries about the citizenship status of the other parties involved, who he said spoke only Spanish.

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Police fire and courts / Mullica farm worker charged in stabbing

From the Atlantic City Press Published: Wednesday, July 09, 2008

One berry picker has been charged with stabbing another on a Nesco farm, less than two weeks after a similar incident nearby.

Wilber Lopez, 22, of Guatemala, slashed and stabbed Oscar Lopez, 25, of Mexico, four times, township police said. It happened at about 12:10 a.m. Monday in front of a labor camp at Oakcrest Farms in the 3200 block of Nesco Road, police said. The men are not relatives.

Oscar Lopez was treated at Kessler Memorial Hospital in Hammonton and released Monday morning. He had been cut on his arm and shoulder and stabbed twice in his upper back. Detective Brian Zech said police were told more than 400 stitches were required.

Wilber Lopez faces a charge of aggravated assault with a weapon, as well as likely deportation as an illegal immigrant, police said. He is being held in Atlantic County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. No court date is set.

Both men were intoxicated and did not remember why they were fighting, township police said. The scuffle followed a larger fight involving at least 10 workers; an anonymous call to 911 alerted police. No weapon was found, although police believe a kitchen knife was used.

In the other incident, two farm workers allegedly attempted to rob three others - who refused to cooperate - on Nesco Road in front of the farm June 28. Jose L. Perez, 22, is charged with stabbing two of them, then fleeing. The victims survived. None of the subjects in that incident was linked to Oakcrest Farms.

Perez, like Wilber Lopez, is an illegal immigrant being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, awaiting a court date, authorities said.

Oscar Lopez also is an illegal immigrant, township police said. It could not be determined whether he will return to work or face charges of any kind. Another picker, Josefina Lopez, of Guatemala, was stabbed at Oakcrest in 2005. Her boyfriend was charged with the crime. Josefina Lopez was stabbed nine times and survived; she is not believed to be related to either Lopez in Monday's attack.

Compiled by staff writers Eric Scott Campbell and Emily Previti.