The hearing was held via video conference where a plea of not guilty was entered. Howard was found to be indigent and Judge Robert Bowen appointed Tom Black as his attorney. A pretrial conference was set for March 13 and two jury trial settings were set for Sept. 10 and Oct. 1. He remains in the Marshall County Jail on a cash bond of $100,000.
Howard is accused of murdering Stephen O. Vires on May 19, 2012 while committing or attempting to commit dealing in a scheduled I controlled substance. It is alleged the controlled substance was heroin and/or morphine. He was arrested shortly after an indictment in this case was filed by a Marshall County Grand Jury.
