DQ man enters guilty plea to negligent homicide charges
Submitted by Patrick Massey, news director KDQN
A De Queen man has pleaded guilty to two counts of negligent homicide resulting from a 2020 fatal crash in Sevier County.
Hugo Hernandez, 25, entered the guilty plea on June 2 in the Sevier County District Court. The charges stem from an accident in Sevier County that killed two people in 2020.
According to court records, Hernandez was arrested on two counts of negligent homicide as well as driving while intoxicated and felony battery for his role in the accident that occurred on June 28 of 2020.
Prosecutors with the Ninth West Judicial District allege Hernandez was responsible for the death of two people in that accident. Authorities claim he was driving while intoxicated when the accident occurred.
State police records show 22-year-old Bernard Edwards, Junior, of Fulton and an unidentified minor were killed in that accident.
Hernandez was arrested after charges were formally filed following an investigation into the accident. He was charged with negligent homicide for the deaths of the minor and Edwards, felony battery for the injuries sustained to the other passenger, and driving while intoxicated. He was initially released from jail after posting bond on a $75,000 bail amount. However, his bond was revoked following his arrest for public intoxication in Hot Springs last year.
Hernandez is expected to return to court in August for sentencing. He could receive up to 20 years in prison for each of the two negligent homicide charges as well as additional time for the charges of driving while intoxicated and felony battery.
In addition, the victim’s family has filed a civil lawsuit against Hernandez and five other individuals who the family alleges served alcohol to Hernandez prior to the accident. The names of the five defendants are not listed in the suit.
The family is asking for a jury trial in the civil lawsuit. The family said they are seeking a monetary judgment against Hernandez for both economic and non-economic damages they’ve suffered due to Edward’s death.
