Local News
Friday, March 07, 2008
Man sentenced for fatal stabbing
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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Please read our privacy guidelines
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News Briefs Two area accident victims reported in serious condition
Two people injured in an accident Sunday night in which another person was killed were listed in serious condition Monday night at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo.
Marilyn Emans, 57, of Mount Cory, and Bret Grayson, 35, of Findlay were taken by a Lifeflight helicopter after their vehicles collided at the intersection of Liberty Township 89 and Hancock County 128.
Grayson failed to yield at the intersection, according to the Hancock County Sheriff's Office.
A passenger in Emans' truck, Charles Wells, 66, of Mount Cory, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A passenger in Grayson's car, Chalon Beatty, 35, of Findlay, was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital. No information was available on his condition.
Street work slated
Harrison Street from Payne Avenue to Foraker Avenue will be closed to through traffic from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Wednesday due to waterline work.
Crash block traffic
WILLIAMSTOWN — A truck rollover accident Monday night blocked both lanes of U.S. 68, south of U.S. 30. The Hancock County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene of the accident, which was reported at about 9:25 p.m.
No other details were available late Monday.
University plans Welcome Week
The University of Findlay alumni and community members are invited to attend several events on campus during Welcome Week, being held from Aug. 25-29.
The Fort Pastor Christian rock band will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 25 in the Cory Street Mall. The rain site is the union. The event is free.
The band host a U.S. military letter-writing campaign from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday in the Alumni Memorial Union.
Changing the earth's climate will be the topic of discussion at 7 p.m. Aug. 26, in the union. Todd H. Albert, an instructor of geography at Bowling Green State University, will speak.
Albert has done research in the Italian Alps, the Rockies, the Andes of Peru and the Greenland ice sheet. This event is free.
College Corner
Mary Linehan has been named to the dean's list for the spring semester at Morehead State University with a 4.0 grade point average. Linehan is a freshman majoring in theater. A 2007 graduate of Liberty-Benton High School, she is the daughter of Michael Linehan and Helen Jomantas of Findlay.
Sarah Ebright, a 2003 Graduate of St. Wendelin High School, was recently inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi Chapter at Lourdes College. Ebright is pursuing her bachelor of science in nursing and associate of art in fine art.
Hospitals
WYANDOT MEMORIAL
Births
Amber Cooper and Alvin Newsome, Upper Sandusky, a boy.
FOSTORIA COMMUNITY
Admitted
Ronald Henry, Fostoria.
Two people injured in an accident Sunday night in which another person was killed were listed in serious condition Monday night at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo.
Marilyn Emans, 57, of Mount Cory, and Bret Grayson, 35, of Findlay were taken by a Lifeflight helicopter after their vehicles collided at the intersection of Liberty Township 89 and Hancock County 128.
Grayson failed to yield at the intersection, according to the Hancock County Sheriff's Office.
A passenger in Emans' truck, Charles Wells, 66, of Mount Cory, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A passenger in Grayson's car, Chalon Beatty, 35, of Findlay, was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital. No information was available on his condition.
Street work slated
Harrison Street from Payne Avenue to Foraker Avenue will be closed to through traffic from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Wednesday due to waterline work.
Crash block traffic
WILLIAMSTOWN — A truck rollover accident Monday night blocked both lanes of U.S. 68, south of U.S. 30. The Hancock County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene of the accident, which was reported at about 9:25 p.m.
No other details were available late Monday.
University plans Welcome Week
The University of Findlay alumni and community members are invited to attend several events on campus during Welcome Week, being held from Aug. 25-29.
The Fort Pastor Christian rock band will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 25 in the Cory Street Mall. The rain site is the union. The event is free.
The band host a U.S. military letter-writing campaign from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday in the Alumni Memorial Union.
Changing the earth's climate will be the topic of discussion at 7 p.m. Aug. 26, in the union. Todd H. Albert, an instructor of geography at Bowling Green State University, will speak.
Albert has done research in the Italian Alps, the Rockies, the Andes of Peru and the Greenland ice sheet. This event is free.
College Corner
Mary Linehan has been named to the dean's list for the spring semester at Morehead State University with a 4.0 grade point average. Linehan is a freshman majoring in theater. A 2007 graduate of Liberty-Benton High School, she is the daughter of Michael Linehan and Helen Jomantas of Findlay.
Sarah Ebright, a 2003 Graduate of St. Wendelin High School, was recently inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi Chapter at Lourdes College. Ebright is pursuing her bachelor of science in nursing and associate of art in fine art.
Hospitals
WYANDOT MEMORIAL
Births
Amber Cooper and Alvin Newsome, Upper Sandusky, a boy.
FOSTORIA COMMUNITY
Admitted
Ronald Henry, Fostoria.