CONWAY -- A 17-year-old boy pleaded innocent Friday to capital murder and other felony charges in the shooting deaths of a Conway couple.
Hunter Drexler of Clinton said nothing audible during his arraignment in Faulkner County Circuit Court other than to answer an attorney's question. Drexler's attorney, Patrick Benca, entered the plea on his client's behalf.
Drexler and Justin Staton, 14, of Conway are charged as adults with two counts each of capital murder, aggravated robbery, theft of property by threat and abuse of a corpse in the July 21 deaths of Staton's guardians, Robert and Patricia Cogdell, both 66.
Judge Troy Braswell set another pretrial hearing for 10 a.m. Sept. 15.
Braswell agreed to allow defense investigators to visit the house where the Cogdells were killed and their nearby property.
Several members of the Cogdells' family sat on a front bench in the small courtroom. Drexler's relatives sat across the aisle. Attorneys accompanied relatives on both sides out of the courtroom.
Drexler, wearing gray jail clothing, was wearing handcuffs and foot shackles when he entered the courtroom.
Justin's attorney has filed a motion asking that his client attend court hearings only in civilian clothing and without restraints. That motion is pending.
Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Hugh Finkelstein represented the state during the brief hearing.
Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland has said he expects formal charges to be filed against additional people later.
Police have said the killings were part of a plot hatched in a youth lockup and aimed at stealing money and credit cards.
State Desk on 08/15/2015