TEXARKANA, Texas - Two men accused of killing a third in the course of a robbery entered pleas of not guilty to capital murder at separate hearings Tuesday in Bowie County district court.
Brandon "Bb" Lasuan Parkman, 18, and Kristopher "Flip" Fate Wilson, 25, allegedly killed Chase Porier so they could steal THC cartridges, known on the street as "carts," which Porier was allegedly selling.
Both men were indicted last month for capital murder and first-degree felony murder by a Bowie County grand jury. Any jury seated to decide the cases may have the option of convicting of one or the other charge or acquittal should they find the evidence does not support a conviction.
Bowie County District Attorney Jerry Rochelle said his office is not seeking the death penalty for either man should they be convicted of capital murder. If found guilty of capital murder, Wilson and Parkman face life without parole. If convicted of first-degree felony murder the men face five to 99 years or life in prison with parole possible.
Wilson entered a not guilty plea Tuesday morning with the help of Texarkana lawyer Derric McFarland at a hearing before 102nd District Judge Jeff Addison. Parkman appeared with Assistant Public Defender Deborah Moore and entered a not guilty plea as well.
Addison scheduled both men to return to court April 6 for pretrial hearings.
According to a probable cause affidavit, a witness to the shooting Dec. 27 told deputies that two men entered the home in the 100 block of Forest Circle to conduct a drug transaction with Porier. After Porier was shot in the neck, the two assailants allegedly took the witness' and Porier's cell phones as well as the THC cartridges Porier was selling.
The witness was able to provide some information to investigators that allowed them to develop Wilson as a suspect. When investigators went to Wilson's home in Atlanta, Texas, they noticed a car matching the description of one seen at the crime scene.
Wilson allegedly admitted to going to Porier's residence that night armed with a handgun. THC cartridges matching the description of those taken from Porier's residence were allegedly found in Wilson's home.
Parkman was developed as a suspect after Wilson's arrest. He turned himself in to authorities in Cass County and is now being held in the Bowie County jail.
Bail for both defendants is set at $1 million.