A western Iowa judge is refusing to cut the bail for a 21-year old Nebraska man who’s charged in connection with the deaths of four motorcyclists on Interstate 29 in August. Harrison County District Court Judge Greg Steensland Monday refused to reduce a $200,000 bail set in the case of Andrew Schlichtemeier, but he did agree to allow a surety bond.
Essentially, that means for a fee, usually 10 percent, a bail bondsman will post the bond for Schlichtemeier which will allow him to leave the Harrison County Jail and return to his home in Nebraska, at least for the time being. Steensland said that if Schlichtemeier does post bail he needs to live with his parents at their farm. He is also not allowed to drive, drink or use illegal drugs.
The Iowa State Patrol says Schlichtemeier’s blood-alcohol level measured .373 percent after the August 9th accident near Little Sioux, that took the lives of motorcyclists Dale Aspedon, Steven Benscoter, Jay Bock and Dennis Chaney. His trial is scheduled to begin December 7. Schlichtemeier faces up to 25 years in jail on each charge.
By Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic