Innocent plea made in quadruple murder

Saying he can read, write and understand the English language - seemingly refuting a claim made by two attorneys who wanted a court appointment to represent him - Terrell Cochise Young pleaded innocent today to charges he participated in a quadruple murder.

Judge Joseph Pavlikowski set a June 21 trial date at the brief arraignment hearing for the 19-year-old, who is one of three teenagers facing charges in the case that could put them on death row if convicted.

The others alleged to have been involved in the execution slayings of the four men during a robbery are Sikia Lafayette Smith, 18, and Donte Johnson, 19, who prosecutors have said was the triggerman.

Jeffrey Biddle, 19, Tracey Gorringe, 20, Matthew Mowen, 19, and Peter Talamantez, 17, were bound with duct tape and shot in the head.

Smith and Young have given statements to police admitting their roles in the case and implicating Johnson.

Standing next to Young at today's hearing were his two newly appointed attorneys, Lew Wolfbrandt and Martin Hastings.

Two other attorneys tried for to get appointed by the court because they claimed to understand Young's black dialect. The judge refused.

Pavlikowski ruled that because one of those attorneys, Terence Dickerson, is from out of state and not licensed in Nevada and the other, Benjamin Childs, is not certified to handle death penalty cases, they weren't eligible for the appointment.

The attorneys sought the appointment, stating Young has trouble being understood because he speaks an African-American dialect that is similar to, but not the same as ebonics.

But Young's words at today's hearing cast doubts on that contention, and one of his attorneys said there are no communication problems.

"We seem to understand each other just fine," said Hastings.

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