Arraignment of teens in slaying rescheduled

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Thursday, June 3, 2004 | 10:06 a.m.

The arraignment of four teenagers accused of murdering their high school friend and burying him in a shallow grave in the desert last year was rescheduled on Wednesday because of a possible conflict of interest involving District Judge Donald Mosley.

Mosley said he would decide on June 15 whether he had "the jurisdiction" to preside over the murder trial of Shane Myers, 18, Cody Myers, 18, Stephen Stringfield, 19, and Matthew Baker, 18.

The question of jurisdiction most likely stems from a possible conflict of interest that may exist because Baker's attorney, Richard Wright, is also Mosley's attorney.

Wright is currently representing Mosely in his ongoing custody battle against his ex-wife, Terry Mosley, for his 11-year-old son.

Shane and Cody Myers, Stringfield and Baker are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree kidnapping with a deadly weapon, murder with the use of a deadly weapon and robbery with use of a deadly weapon in connection with the death of Jared Whaley, a Silverado High School student.

Authorities have argued that Baker was the leader and wanted to kill Whaley because he had interfered with drug dealing the group was involved in, according to police reports.