The Nebraska man accused in the deaths of four motorcyclists last August on I-29 in western Iowa has changed his plea and could now face up to 50 years in prison, instead of 100. On Monday, 22-year-old Andrew Schlichtemeir of Murray, Nebraska entered a guilty plea to four counts of vehicular homicide.
In exchange for the guilty plea, the Iowa Attorney General’s office is recommending that two of the vehicular homicide prison terms be served consecutively and two be served concurrently. Under Iowa law, each term carries a 25 year sentence. Authorities say Schlictemeir was drunk when his pickup swerved into oncoming traffic, hitting and killing four motorcyclists on August 9 of last year in Harrison County.
Killed in the accident were 62-year-old Dennis Chaney and 49-year-old Dale Aspedon, both of Glenwood, 62-year-old Steven Benscoter of Pacific Junction and 48-year-old Jay Bock of Omaha, Nebraska. Schlictemeir, who previously plead not guilty to the charges, is scheduled for a plea hearing on February 10.
By Michael Earl, KDSN, Denison