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The Kentucky man facing murder and robbery charges in an Aurora
woman's death was ordered held without bail Thursday, May 17, by
Dearborn Circuit Court Judge James Humphrey.
Humphrey entered a plea of not guilty for Charles Robert “Steve”
Stephenson, 58, Walton, and set an omnibus and pretrial hearing for
8:30 a.m. Monday, July 2. Stephenson said his only income is a
monthly $650 retirement payment and he has no cash or retirement
account. He said he had been self employed in sales but was not now.
Humphrey asked if any relatives have offered to hire an attorney
for Stephenson.
“There is talk and I don't know at this point, sir,” replied
Stephenson. Humphrey then ordered an attorney be appointed for
Stephenson but took under advisement whom he would appoint as
Stephenson's attorney. Humphrey said the appointment should be made
by the beginning of next week.
Stephenson, who was composed and polite during the initial
hearing, is accused of killing Leigh Jennings, 67, on Thursday, March
29, according to the affidavit of probable cause by Indiana State
Police Det. Tracy Rohlfing. Stephenson appeared in court in orange
jail garb and wrist and ankle cuffs.
Jennings' body was found in her apartment, 107B Aspen Ridge,
Thursday, April 5, said the affidavit. The cause of death was blunt
force trauma from a pepper grinder and a heavy skillet, said Dearborn
County Prosecutor Aaron Negangard previously. DNA evidence on the
pepper grinder links Stephenson to the scene, he said.
Negangard also said the motive for Jennings' death appeared to be
Stephenson's financial problems.
At Thursday's hearing, Negangard said Stephenson was convicted of
shoplifting in 1992 and faces charges of trafficking in a controlled
substance and tampering with physical evidence in Boone County, Ky.
The possible penalties for murder are 45 to 65 years imprisonment,
with an advisory of 55 years, and up to a $10,000 fine, said
Humphrey. For robbery, a Class A Felony, possible penalties are 20 to
50 years imprisonment with an advisory of 30 years, and up to a
$10,000 fine, he said.
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