BUFFALO — Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces that 20-year-old Kody Schroeder of Holland and 18-year-old Mercedes Castillo of Holland have pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice Penny M. Wolfgang for their role in a deadly drag race.

Schroeder pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter and first-degree vehicular assault.

Castillo pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault.

On April 12, 2016 at approximately 2:10 p.m., Castillo was driving a vehicle on Center Street in Colden, that was travelling at a high rate of speed with another speeding car driven by Schroeder.

Schroeder’s vehicle then crashed into the back of a pickup truck that was turning into the driveway at 8137 Center Street.  The collision resulted in the death of a passenger in Schroeder’s car, 28-year-old Chauncey Kloiber of Wales and the serious physical injury of another passenger in Schroeder’s car, 20-year-old Tabitha Trautwein of Holland.  Ms. Trautwein is recovering at a rehabilitation center.

Schroeder faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and Castillo faces a maximum of four years in prison when they are sentenced by Justice Wolfgang on Dec. 14, 2016 at 9:30 a.m.


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