2 suspects plead not guilty in robbery, shooting

Two of the suspects in a robbery attempt and subsequent shooting at a St. Joseph Wal-Mart pleaded not guilty in Buchanan County Circuit Court on Monday.

Alyssa Richardson, 21, and Jeremy Hicks, 20, each appeared before Judge Pat Robb for their arraignments.

At Ms. Richardson’s last hearing, Judge Ron Taylor reduced her bail from $75,000 to $25,000. She appeared Monday free on bond, though by doing so, Ms. Richardson likely will have to forfeit her public defender and hire a private attorney.

Assistant prosecutor Kate Schaefer also asked Mr. Robb to ban Ms. Richardson from having any contact with her three co-defendants as a condition of her bond, which the judge did. Ms. Schaefer said the defendant tried to contact the juvenile defendant in the case since being released from jail.

According to police and court records, Mr. Hicks and David Lee Hendrix, 22, stopped Nicholas Poirer on Sept. 11 in the parking lot of the South Belt Wal-Mart. During the robbery, police detectives said Mr. Poirer attempted to defend himself, and Mr. Hicks or Mr. Hendrix shot Mr. Poirer in the leg. The two suspects took money, a witness said.

According to prosecutors, the getaway car for the robbery belonged to Ms. Richardson and the female defendant was present for the planning of the crime. Ms. Richardson allegedly helped throw away evidence and hide the car. The prosecutor’s office charged her with conspiracy to commit robbery, a class B felony.

Mr. Hendrix and Mr. Hicks each face first-degree robbery charges. Mr. Hicks, who still is in custody, is scheduled to appear for his trial setting on Nov. 19. Ms. Richardson’s trial setting is scheduled for Nov. 5.

Norris murder suspects plead not guilty

Michael Limley, 36, and Christopher Helton, 35, pleaded not guilty in Buchanan County Circuit Court on Monday to murdering local businessman Larry Norris back in August.

Both defendants are scheduled back in court on Nov. 23 for their trial settings.

According to St. Joseph police detectives, Mr. Helton and Mr. Limley went to Valvoline Express Care on Gene Field Road on Aug. 25 to commit a robbery. A Deffenbaugh Disposal trash hauler discovered Mr. Norris’ body at 6:49 a.m. behind the oil-change business.

Investigators revealed Mr. Norris died from a single gunshot wound to the torso.

Man enters not guilty plea in child molestation

Mariano Chun-Juarez pleaded not guilty to first-degree child molestation in Buchanan County Circuit Court on Monday.

According to the probable cause statement, Chun-Juarez, 29, molested a 4-year-old girl in August by kissing and touching her. Court documents indicate the defendant lives in St. Joseph but is in the country illegally.

The defendant will appear before Judge Dan Kellogg on Nov. 23 for his trial setting.

R.J. Cooper compiled this report. He can be reached at rjcooper@npgco.com.