The seventh person arrested in connection with the fatal beating of Preston Lord made his first court appearance Friday in Maricopa County Superior Court.
Gilbert resident Treston John Billey, 18, faces charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
Bryn K. DeFusco, an attorney representing Preston Lord’s family, spoke in court and asked the judge to keep the bond in Billey’s case at $1 million, which it was.
“Your honor, for months in this case witnesses had been threatened and intimidated into silence. Additionally, all the defendants fled the scene after assaulting Preston,” DeFusco said.
William “Owen” Hines, 18, Taylor Sherman, 19, and Dominic Turner, 20, had their initial appearance hearings in Maricopa County Superior Court.
Jacob Meisner, Talan Renner, and Talyn Vigil appeared in juvenile court. Though they are 17, they were charged as adults.