La Plata, MD – Elias Alvarado Rosas, 38 of White Plains, will not be going to prison for attempted first-degree murder.

A Charles County Circuit Court jury sitting before Judge H. James West found the defendant not guilty on that charge, not guilty of attempted second-degree murder, of assault first-degree, and carrying a dangerous weapon with intent to injure when they rendered their verdict Friday, Sept. 25.

Rosas was found guilty of two lesser charges: attempted manslaughter and second-degree assault.

Rosas said through an interpreter that he did not want to be in court, that he was only defending himself and his family when he stabbed Hernandez Sanchez at Williford Farm in White Plains June 4, 2014.

He said during the trial that Sanchez had allegedly raped his wife in March 2014.

Sanchez had been sharing their trailer for four years prior to that incident, when Rosas evicted him.

After obtaining a protective order against his former tenant, Rosas and his wife testified that Sanchez tried to break into their trailer on at least three occasions, but was gone when police arrived.

The couple and their two small children began staying at the Deluxe Inn in La Plata and while they were there, according to testimony from Rosas, did not receive a court notice of their actions against Sanchez for violating the peace order.

All of that erupted at the White Plains horse farm when according to Rosas, Sanchez confronted him while he was unloading wood from a trailer at the farm. Rosas testified that Sanchez punched him in the face twice and he produced his pocket knife in self-defense.

Defense Attorney Robin Ficker said those mitigating factors were crucial for the jury reaching its verdict.

“There’s no question about it,” Ficker said.

The attorney said he offered to plead guilty to second-degree assault, but the state declined.

“That’s what they ended up convicting him of,” he said.

“I’m very much relieved,” Ficker added. “That we were able to get not guilty verdicts on those major charges, that was huge. He will not be facing a prison sentence. We’re hoping any jail time can be served locally.”

Second-degree assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and a $2,500 fine; voluntary manslaughter can range from 10 years in prison to two years in jail and a $500 fine.

Rosas faces sentencing Nov. 19.

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com