ALAMOSA — One of three charged with Mathias Fritz’s August 9, 2018 murder, Shem Brown, 26, of Monte Vista, appeared in Alamosa County Court for a preliminary hearing on Friday.

Through his attorney Riley Selleck, Brown waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and Alamosa County Judge Daniel Walzl bound the case over to district court. Brown’s first appearance before District Judge Michael Gonzales in district court is scheduled for February 19.

Deputy District Attorney Kelsey Waldorf represented the prosecution at Friday’s hearing.

Judge Walzl said he also granted the district attorney’s motions to amend the complaint against Brown and add three more counts. Brown faced 31 counts associated with the murder of Fritz and assault and shooting of Alma Salazar, who survived. The judge permitted the addition of three more charges — felony 1 murder in the first degree and two crime of violence sentence enhancers. Brown faces multiple charges including murder, kidnapping, robbery, felony menacing and crimes of violence sentence enhancers.

Brown’s bond is set at $500,000, cash or surety.

Co-defendant Shawndon J. McVey, 25, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Monday, January 14, and the third person charged in the Fritz murder, Robert P. Martinez, 29, is set for February 1.

Fritz, 40, of Alamosa, was shot to death on August 9, 2018, in East Alamosa.

Selleck asked for a new case against Brown, filed before the end of 2018, to be scheduled the same day as the murder case, as Selleck travels from Salida to represent his client. Walzl scheduled a preliminary hearing on that case for the morning of February 19 in Alamosa County Court. Judge Walzl reviewed the charges and Brown’s rights in the new case, which involves charges of felony accessory to a crime, first-degree assault, sentence enhancer crime of violence and felony retaliation against a witness or victim. Bond in that case is set at $75,000, cash or surety.

Brown has a right to a preliminary within 35 days, and February 19 is just outside that time period, but he agreed to the date beyond the 35-day rule.