A trial date has been scheduled for June 28-29 for Aaron Michael Rhodes, 23, of Little River County who is charged with second degree murder for the shooting death of Matthew Stewart.
the trial.
Rhodes is charged with second degree murder and Courtney Clemensen, 20, of Little River County is accused of tampering with evidence in the fatal shooting of
Stewart.
Clemensen has also pleaded innocent to the tampering with evidence charge.
An arrest affidavit says deputies were called to Rhodes and Clemenson's residence at 2094 state Highway 32 West about 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 9 because of a shooting.
When deputies arrived, they found the body of Matthew Stewart sitting in a chair with a fatal gunshot wound to the head, according to the affidavit prepared by Arkansas State Police Senior Special Agent
John Rhone.
Rhodes and Clemensen told police Stewart shot himself, said
the report.
When Rhone arrived a couple of days later to continue the investigation, Rhodes reportedly changed his story and claimed he accidentally shot Stewart while playing with a gun, which Rhone said was a .45-caliber pistol.
Stewart was sitting in a chair in the living room texting on the phone, and Rhodes was reportedly smoking marijuana when Rhodes picked up his handgun and began to play with it, officials said.
While Rhodes was allegedly playing with the gun, the firing pin was activated by a trigger pull, and a chambered bullet struck Stewart on the top of his head, according
to the report.
After the shooting, Clemensen wiped the gun down to prevent it "from being forensically processed for fingerprints." said the
affidavit.
Clemensen also allegedly told police she picked up the shell casing ejected from the gun.
"During a follow-up interview, Clemensen changed her statement and stated Rhodes accidentally shot Stewart," the affidavit
said.
A trial date for Clemensen has been scheduled with a pre-trial hearing June 7 and a trial date of
June 20.
Rhodes remains in the Little River County jail under a $100,000 bond. Clemensen has been released on bond.