Bond is continued for murder suspect in Findlay

6/14/2007

FINDLAY - Judge Robert Fry continued bond at $500,000 yesterday in Findlay Municipal Court for a McComb, Ohio, man charged with stabbing a Findlay man to death last week.

Aaron Hernandez, 19, was charged with one count of murder, though his case was expected to be presented to a Hancock County grand jury as early as today.

He was arrested Friday for the murder of Andrew C. Coleman, 22, who was stabbed in a parking lot outside Brandy's Caf on West Main Cross Street about 2:35 a.m. that day. Mr. Coleman died about an hour later at Blanchard Valley Hospital.

Findlay police Lt. Chuck Wilson described the attack as a bar fight and said it did not appear the two had a history or any problem inside the bar.

"It's closing time at the bar and, for whatever reason, these two decided to square off and duke it out in the parking lot," he said.

In court yesterday, Mr. Hernandez did not have an attorney by his side. After telling Judge Fry he could not afford one, the judge said the court would appoint one. A preliminary hearing in the case was set for 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Judge Fry kept bond at $500,000, saying Mr. Hernandez was a flight risk who had an extensive criminal history in Texas dating to 2002, including charges of making terroristic threats, assault with intent to commit bodily harm, possession of marijuana, and a weapons offense.