A man accused of murder and those who allegedly helped him answered their charges Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Justin Wilson, 25, of 223 Township Road 1186 Apt. 43, South Point, was arraigned on a murder charge and a third-degree tampering with evidence charge. A gun specification was also included in the indictment by the grand jury, which alleged Wilson was in possession of a firearm at the time of the crime.

Wilson pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Warren Morford.

Judge Charles Cooper set bond at $500,000 cash or surety.

Also arraigned were Nicole Eller, 30, of 37 Township Road 616 Apt. 9, South Point, and William Rice, 24, of 65 Township Road 520 N., South Point, each on counts of complicity to murder, third-degree tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice.

Each pleaded not guilty through their attorneys, Philip Heald and Michael Davenport, respectively.

Cooper set bond for Eller and Rice at $300,000 cash or surety.

Pretrials for all three defendants were set for March 18.

Tentative trial dates for Eller and Rice were set for April 9.

Wilson is alleged to have shot and killed 30-year old Justin Adams on Jan. 13 after an alleged drug-related dispute at Eller’s residence.

According to investigators, Wilson and Rice, allegedly began demanding money they claimed Adams had stolen from them. Wilson allegedly began assaulting Adams and then produced a small caliber handgun and fired at least one shot that struck Adams in the face. Wilson and Rice then allegedly fled the residence.

Eller was arrested that evening, while Rice turned himself in to police a few days later. Wilson was arrested about two weeks after the shooting in Huntington.

Murder and complicity to murder are unclassified felonies and carry a minimum sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Felonies of the third-degree carry up to three years in prison.

Gun specifications carry a mandatory three-year consecutive sentence.