Not guilty pleas given in beating

7/25/2002

Three of four men indicted in the beating death of a 38-year-old South Toledo man pleaded not guilty in Lucas County Common Pleas Court yesterday in front of Judge Judith Lanzinger.

Marcus Torres, 31, of 2422 North Ontario St.; Daniel Shanteau, 22, of 314 Wasaon St.; and Gerardo Vieyra, 18, of 2307 North Summit St., No. 2, entered their pleas during arraignment.

All three remained in the Lucas County jail yesterday on $500,000 bond each.

A fourth suspect in the case, Billy Jack Adams, 22, of 929 Michigan St. did not have an attorney present. Judge Lanzinger declared Mr. Adams indigent and ordered him to appear again tomorrow with a court-appointed attorney.

He also remained in the Lucas County jail last night.

The four men are accused of chasing Rudy Hernandez of 2470 Lawton Ave. out of the New Triangle Caf early July 14 to the intersection of Maumee Street and Walbridge Avenue before beating him around 2:20 a.m.

Mr. Hernandez was pronounced dead at 2:55 a.m. at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.

Lucas County deputy coroner Dr. Cynthia Beisser said Mr. Hernandez died from a pre-existing heart disease that was exacerbated by the beating.

Dr. Beisser said the victim suffered injuries on his face, although there did not appear to be any significant internal head injuries.

The caf has been a topic of controversy since last year when city councilman Bob McCloskey and other community leaders called for its closing because of past problems.