USPS Worker Charged After Dumping Mail In Charles County Woods

BEL ALTON, Md. — A U.S. Postal Service worker from Waldorf has been charged after investigators say he dumped mail and debris in a wooded area in Charles County.

David Jarvis Hughes Jr., 26, of Waldorf, is charged with littering/dumping under 100 pounds following an incident on March 28, 2026, according to court documents.

The investigation began around 3 p.m. in the area of Bel Alton Newtown Road and Hill Farm Road in Bel Alton, where a caller reported illegal trash dumping.

According to charging documents, a witness told deputies they observed a white U.S. Postal Service delivery van stopped along the roadway with hazard lights activated. The witness reported seeing a man wearing a red hoodie exit the vehicle and throw mail and other items into a wooded area before returning to the van and leaving the scene.

Responding officers located scattered mail in the woods and later identified a USPS vehicle matching the description in the area. Authorities made contact with Hughes, who was identified as the driver and assigned postal worker on the route.

Investigators said Hughes told officers he was working at the time and denied dumping the items. However, further investigation, including statements from USPS personnel, indicated the discarded mail originated from his assigned route.

Due to inconsistencies in his statements, Hughes was taken into custody and transported to the Charles County Detention Center, where he was charged.

He was later released on his own recognizance.

A trial is scheduled for May 12, 2026, in Charles County District Court.

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