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Local News

Friday, March 07, 2008

Man sentenced for fatal stabbing

LaRiche Toyota-Subaru
By J. STEVEN DILLON

STAFF WRITER

A McComb man, scheduled to go on trial Monday for the stabbing death of a man outside Brandy's night club last summer, admitted his guilt Thursday and was sentenced to at least 15 years in prison.

In an unexpected development, Aaron H. Hernandez, 20, pleaded guilty to the murder of Andrew C. Coleman, 22, of Findlay.

Hancock County Common Pleas Court Judge Reg Routson sentenced him to life in prison for the unclassified felony offense. The defendant, who did not speak at sentencing, will have to serve 15 years before being considered for parole.

Hancock County Prosecutor Mark Miller said Thursday his staff was preparing for trial when Hernandez agreed to a plea bargain.

"We had been talking with his attorney, but it didn't appear that we could get it done," Miller said. "We were surprised that it happened."

The case was resolved after prosecutors agreed to dismiss a tampering with evidence charge. That charge was related to the murder weapon, which was never found.

Authorities say Hernandez used a "butterfly" style knife to stab Coleman, then discarded the weapon.

"I'm pleased for the victim's family," Miller said after the hearing Thursday. "This means they won't have to go through a trial and can have some sense of closure."

Hernandez's attorney, Greg Meyers, the senior assistant state public defender, could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Had the case gone to trial, the defense had been expected to claim Hernandez, if anything, was guilty of voluntary manslaughter, a less serious offense which carries a maximum 10-year sentence.

But Miller said he had been prepared to introduce evidence that would have proven Hernandez purposely caused the death of Coleman.

"We felt murder was the appropriate charge in this case," Miller said. "If you take a knife and plunge it into somebody's chest in Hancock County and kill them, it's murder."

Hernandez, originally from Texas, had been living with relatives in Leipsic but was also staying at a residence in McComb at times last summer.

Findlay police found him hiding in an attic at the McComb home of his cousin, Jose A. Zamora, several hours after Coleman died early June 8.

Zamora, authorities said, had been with Hernandez and two other friends at Brandy's, and they were among a group of patrons leaving the popular night spot when trouble began around closing time.

Coleman, who Hernandez didn't know, was also leaving the bar.

Miller said Hernandez got into an argument and hit another man just outside the bar, before getting into another confrontation, this time with Coleman.

"It was verbal, apparently nothing physical, at that point," Miller said.

The two separated, according to witnesses, and Hernandez had gotten into a car to leave the parking lot when Coleman and Zamora began to argue outside the car.

Hernandez got out of the vehicle and began fist fighting with Coleman near Glessner Avenue, on the east side of Brandy's.

Hernandez then pulled out a small knife and stabbed Coleman in the upper chest.

Witnesses told police that Coleman fell to his knees. Hernandez ran, dropped the knife, then picked it up and jumped in the car. The vehicle left the area.

Coleman collapsed after suffering a wound which had lacerated his left pulmonary artery. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Blanchard Valley Hospital.

Hernandez was arrested several hours later in McComb and has been held ever since in the Hancock County jail on $500,000 bond.

He had been scheduled to go on trial in October, but the trial was postponed after he attacked his first attorney in court. The state public defender's office was later assigned the case.

Miller said there was never an identity issue in the case — several eyewitnesses described Hernandez as Coleman's killer — but police never got a good explanation why Hernandez stabbed Coleman.

"It's one of those things we really haven't been able to figure out," Miller said. "It's a classic example of a senseless loss of human life."

Contact staff writer J. Steven Dillon at:

(419) 427-8423

Send an e-mail to Steve Dillon

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News Briefs Health official to give lecture
Terry Carson, a visiting executive at the University of Findlay, will give a public lecture on health care at noon Monday at Winebrenner Theological Seminary.

Carson will speak on, “Health Care: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?”

Carson is chief executive officer of a 25-bed critical access facility, Harrison Community Hospital in Cadiz, Ohio, a position he has held for 18 years. Before that he was administrator of Hialeah Hospital in Hialeah, Fla., Johnston Memorial Hospital in Smithfield, N.C., Colleton Regional Hospital in Walterboro, S.C., and chief accountant of Suburban Community Hospital in Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

Carson is a graduate of the University of Findlay with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He completed graduate studies at Wheeling Jesuit University and the University of Miami.

H1N1 flu vaccine offered in Carey
CAREY -- The Wyandot County Health Department will be administering H1N1 flu vaccine in the Laird Room at Carey School from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Vaccine will be available to health care providers, pregnant women, children 6 months to 24 years, caregivers of children under the age of 6 months, and people age 25 to 64 with a chronic medical condition.

The vaccine is being provided on a first-come, first-served basis and is free of charge.

For more details call the health department at 419-294-3852.

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The Hancock County Democratic Party will hold its last 2009 general meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in Findlay City Council chambers in the Municipal Building.

Members will name a temporary successor to Jim Smith, a Hancock County Board of Elections member who will retire at the end of the year.

An election to fill the post for a full term will be held at the Feb. 8, 2010 general meeting. Democrats interested in the post should attend that meeting.

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Van Buren -- Van Buren Village Council's regular meeting has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Community Room at Van Buren High School.

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Animals getting ready for winter will be discussed at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Nov. 16 during the Hancock Park District's Wee Ones in the Parks program.

The same program will be offered at each time in the Discovery Center at Oakwoods Nature Preserve.

The program will include a story, activities and a craft.

The event is for toddlers 3 years old and under, accompanied by an adult.

For more information, call the park district office, 419-425-7275.