Booking Photo Of Charles Carter From Sweetwater County Memorial Hospital
A man accused of murder in the stabbing death of a fellow traveling salesman in Rock Springs last month pleaded not guilty by reason of mental deficiency during his arraignment this afternoon.
Charles Carter, 27 of Fayettville, North Carolina appeared before 3rd Judicial District Judge Nena James to enter a plea for a first degree murder charge. Public Defender Stan Cannon entered the plea of not guilty by reason of mental deficiency on Carter’s behalf.
With the plea, Carter will undergo a fitness to proceed examination at the Wyoming State Hospital to determine if he is fit to move forward with the case and potentially head to trial.
Judge James said she would require the evaluation to be done at the State Hospital due to the nature of the charge.
James said with such a serious charge it was in the best interest of everyone for a comprehensive examination to take place. She said that would require more than a one-hour interview at the jail.
James said she previously expected trial to be set for August 29, 2016, but said the plea made that unlikely to be the case. With the State Hospital’s heavy workload, she sad setting any trial day would be premature.
Cannon told James he reserved the right no argue bond later, but did not intend to address bond at this time. Carter’s bond is still set at $1.5 million cash or surety. He also has a $500 cash bond for an unrelated, alleged assault while at the Sweetwater County Detention Facility.
At the end of the hearing, Carter thanked Judge James for her attention to the situation and wished her to have a nice day.
Carter is charged with Murder in the First Degree for the death of 20-year-old Toboris Lee of Batesville, Mississippi on May 9th. Lee was allegedly stabbed in the parking lot of the Loaf N Jug on Foothill Boulevard in Rock Springs and died from his injuries. Both Carter and Lee were identified as travelling salesmen.
If convicted, Carter faces possible maximum penalties of death, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and up to a $10,000 fine.