Zachary Lawson                Jeremia Palmer

The preliminary hearing for two of three men arrested over a year ago after 28-year-old Larry McVey reported that he had been kidnapped, beaten and robbed by the three men didn’t go Tuesday morning as expected.

The state apparently presented both defense attorney’s with a plea offer, but neither of the defendants were in court, so neither attorney could present the offer to their clients. They wanted time to see of their clients would consider the offer.

Jeremia Palmer, is currently charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, attempted aggravated robbery.

Co-defendant Zachary Lawson is charged with aggravated kidnapping, attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, criminal threat, possession of drugs, possession of meth and marijuana.

The alleged beating of McVey occurring on September 8, 2011, in Nickerson.

Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen agreed to continue the hearing one more time to allow consideration of the plea offer by the defendants, however Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton says he wants an answer on whether they will except the plea offer no later then January 23, or the hearing would resume again for January 28.

Alice Osburn who represents Palmer says her client goes to trial for other cases on January 29, so he would need to enter the plea “if he excepts” no later then January 28.

In the cases in question, he’s charged with aggravated battery for an incident on July 22, 2011. He allegedly battered Tyler Melton after he accused him of making some comment to his girlfriend. In the other case, he’s charged with criminal threat against Michael Young, which is reported to have occurred back on July 30, 2011.

Lawson has several cases pending as well but whether this offer would cover all of his cases in unclear.