Although the case against a Hutchinson man accused of murder is assigned to Reno County District Judge Trish Rose, the preliminary hearing on a new count against Charles Christopher Logsdon on an additional count was heard in front of Judge Tim Chambers.

Judge Rose granted the states request to add an additional charge of aggravated intimidation of a witness against Logsdon stating that on April 19, he allegedly threatened another inmate in the county jail from testifying against him.

Matthew Mounce testified that while in the recreation area of the Reno County jail, Logsdon accused Mounce of being a “snitch” and indicated that he may be “harmed or killed” for his statements to police or testimony he might give in the murder case. He also told of talking with KBI agent Jeff Newsum about comments Logsdon made about the Jennifer Heckel murder.

It was back on March 13, that Mounce was interviewed by Newsum and told the investigator that Logsdon had made a number of incriminating statements about the murder.

The state started to call Newsum as a witness, when Judge Chambers asked Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell why he was calling him? He told the prosecutor that he would only testify to the same thing that the previous witness had stated. So, instead the state rested and the judge found probable cause for the additional charge.

When the arraignment on that count will be made is unclear, because his attorney Michael Brown will be starting a jury trial next week. Normally, arraignments are done the first Monday of each month, which would be next Monday June 4. Judge Rose will have to set a new date, since the case is still hers.

Logsdon along with co-defendant Billy Craig, Jr., are charged with the murder of Jennifer Heckel last summer. Other charges include conspiracy to commit first degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Both men await a jury trial in separate courts over the killing.