John Auer Jose Hernandez
10/4/11
by Perry Miller
Court appearances and not guilty pleas today from two men charged in separate, fatal traffic
accidents.
Thirty-nine-year-old John Auer has been indicted for first-degree manslaughter, second-degree
manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault of a law enforcement officer, obstructing,
two counts of simple assault and reckless driving.
The charges stem from a September ninth accident that killed 67-year-old James Edward
Schroeder of Brookings. He was driving a pickup that was hit head-on by a pickup allegedly
driven by Auer.
Auer this afternoon entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity to all the
charges. His trial is set for March.
Auer is free after posting a 50-thousand dollar cash bond.
Eighteen-year-old Jose Hernandez has been indicted for vehicular homicide, first-degree
manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter and felony hit and run.
Hernandez is accused of driving an S-U-V that ran a red light andcollided with a car driven
by 17-year-old John Bennett of rural Brookings. Bennett was killed in the crash.
Court records say Hernandez admitted he was the driver and sole occupant of the S-U-V.
Hernandez entered not guilty pleas to all the charges. His trial is set for January 11th.
Hernandez is being held at the Brookings County Jail. His bond is set at 100-thousand
dollars cash.
Both men are facing a maximum penalty of life in prison.
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