Huron bar owner accused of rape to appear in court

HURON (AP) — A Huron bar owner accused of serving a 12-year-old and two 14-year-olds alcohol and raping them is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

Thirty-five-year-old Werner Fajardo is charged with six counts of rape and several counts of providing alcohol to minors at his El Cuervo bar in Huron. He has pleaded not guilty.

Fajardo is scheduled to appear in court with new lawyer Carmen Means after Jeff Burns was recused from the case. Burns had learned he had previously represented a witness in the case.

Deputy State's Attorney for Beadle County Jeff Banks says a new trial date may be set during Tuesday's hearing scheduled for 9: 30 a.m.

Fajardo is being held at the Beadle County Jail on $150,000 bond.

Tags: el cuervo, werner fajardo, news, updates, huron, state, crime, rape, courts