The 16-year-old Stow teen charged in the Craigslist shootings case pleaded not guilty Monday in Summit County Juvenile Court to juvenile charges of aggravated murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping in a 12-count indictment.
Prosecutors also asked that Brogan Rafferty be tried as an adult and his case be transferred to Summit County Common Pleas Court.
Rafferty is accused of being an accomplice in the deaths of three men and the attempted murder of a fourth.
The teen and his mentor Richard Beasley, 52, of Akron, are accused in a scheme that involved a help wanted ad posted online that offered $300 a week and housing to oversee a farm in Noble County. Prosecutors say the job never existed.
Authorities charge the victims were lured to their deaths.
The victims include David Pauley, 51, of Virginia, who was killed Oct. 23. His body was discovered about a month later in Noble County.
The body of Timothy Kern, 47, of Massillon, who was killed Nov. 13, was found near Rolling Acres Mall in Akron on Nov. 25. The body of Ralph Geiger, 55, of Atlanta, was found Nov. 25 near where Pauley was buried.
Scott David, 48, a former Canton man living in South Carolina, was shot Nov. 6 after arriving at the Noble County location, but escaped. He alerted authorities and led them to the crime scene.
At Monday’s preliminary hearing, Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio reviewed the indictment. Rafferty said he understood the charges.
Court-appointed attorney John Alexander will represent Rafferty.
Summit County Assistant Prosecutor Jon Baumoel said Rafferty, a junior at Stow-Munroe Falls High School, was offered a plea deal with Noble County authorities on Friday in exchange for his testimony against Beasley. The teen rejected the offer. The case was then transferred to Summit County.
Rafferty was being held in the Summit County Jail because Noble County did not have an appropriate facility to house the teen. Noble County prosecutors have said Rafferty was cooperative.
Alexander asked the judge whether the youth could be held in the county’s detention center rather than the county jail. The judge agreed.
Hearing on Friday
Teodosio has scheduled another hearing for Friday.
Beasley, who is accused of being the mastermind of the plot, has been charged with aggravated murder, robbery and kidnapping. He is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in Summit County.
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.