Not guilty plea for Byron Scherf

  • By Diana Hefley
  • Wednesday, March 16, 2011 2:18pm
  • Local News

EVERETT — A lawyer for an inmate accused of killing a Monroe corrections officer Jan. 29 entered a a not guilty plea on the man’s behalf Wednesday.

Byron Scherf made his first court appearance since prosecutors charged him with aggravated murder and announced their plans to seek the death penalty.

He reportedly has said he wanted to plead guilty and face swift execution. During a hearing on Wednesday, however, one of Scherf’s defense attorneys entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Scherf is charged with killing Monroe corrections officer Jayme Biendl, 34, inside the reformatory chapel. He was locked up serving a life sentence after being convicted in 1997 of a rape and kidnapping.

Scherf, 52, reportedly told detectives he became angry over something Biendl said and waited for the other inmates to leave the chapel so he could be alone with the corrections officer. He was a volunteer at the chapel.

A May 6 trial date was scheduled.

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