Taos,NM : Suspect in fatal Taos-area crash released on bond on October, Thursday 5th 2017

Juan Espinoza, a 21-year-old Bakersfield, Calif., resident charged with multiple counts of homicide by vehicle in a fatal car crash late last month, was released on bond from the Taos County jail this week.

Espinoza’s original $200,000 cash-only bond was reduced to a $20,000 cash surety bond during a Magistrate Court hearing Oct. 5, requiring that he post just $2,000.

The 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office did not seek a no-bond hold for the case, which would have kept Espinoza incarcerated until trial.

Law enforcement booked Espinoza in the county jail following the Sept. 30 crash on N.M. 68.

Hannah Metzger, 25, a seasonal resident of Taos and Santa Fe from Delray Beach, Fla., and Cedrick Kober, 33, a seasonal resident of Santa Fe from Little River, S.C., both died in the crash. The third victim, Cody Woolard, 26, of Taos, remains in critical condition, according to officials.

Following his release, Espinoza was expected to return to California, where he will be required to maintain contact with his attorney and appear for court dates in his case.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled Oct. 26.


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Suspect in fatal Taos-area crash released on bond