EVERETT — Two Snohomish County 14-year-olds pleaded innocent Thursday to adult murder charges in the death of an Everett man.
Marriam D. Oliver of Everett and Kyle W. Boston of Arlington entered the pleas during a brief hearing in Snohomish County Superior Court. Their trials are scheduled for Jan. 4.
Along with Heather L. Opel, also 14, Boston and Oliver are charged with first-degree murder in the April killing of Jerry Heimann, 64. Opel’s arraignment will occur later.
The teens face a minimum 20-year sentence if convicted as charged.
Prosecutors say all of the teens agreed to participate in killing Heimann as part of a robbery plot. The plan allegedly was conceived by Heather Opel’s mother, Barbara, 38, of Everett, who had worked for Heimann.
Barbara Opel is charged with aggravated first-degree murder, and prosecutors are considering asking for the death penalty.
Another defendant, Jeff Grote, 17, Heather Opel’s former boyfriend, has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and under a plea agreement likely will be sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Charges against a 13-year-old Marysville boy allegedly involved in the killing will remain in juvenile court, the judge ruled.
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