Richard Beasley, suspect in Ohio "Craigslist killings," pleads not guilty

(CBS/AP) AKRON, Ohio - An Ohio man accused in a deadly scheme to rob people who replied to a Craigslist job ad pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges including aggravated murder and kidnapping.

An attorney for Richard Beasley, 52, entered the plea on his behalf during his arraignment by video hookup from jail.

The 52-year-old is accused of killing three men and wounding a fourth in August, October and November. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

Beasley and his 17-year-old co-defendant Brogan Rafferty are accused of luring men to a farm in Noble County with a Craigslist ad that promising work.

Two men were killed and buried in shallow graves. A third man was shot, but managed to escape. The body of a fourth victim, 47-year-old Timothy Kern, found in a shallow grave in Akron behind Rolling Acres Mall.

At Wednesday's arraignment, Beasley asked about news cameras in the courtroom. "I'm worried about contaminating a jury pool," Beasley said.

Beasley has been held without bond and Magistrate John Shoemaker continued that arrangement. Beasley's count-appointed attorney, Brian Pierce, said he might take up the issue of pretrial release on bond.

A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Feb. 8.

Rafferty, has already pleaded not guilty to juvenile counts brought against him. The 17-year-old was a student at Stow-Munroe Falls High School in suburban Akron when he was arrested in the fall.

Rafferty was charged with three counts of aggravated murder, one count of attempted murder, four counts of aggravated robbery and four counts of kidnapping, Summit County prosecutor's spokeswoman April Wiesner said.

Prosecutors filed a motion on Monday asking that Rafferty be tried as an adult.

Complete coverage of the Ohio Craigslist murder case on Crimesider