Turk murder case moved to October

J. Turk

D. Turk

The status conference in the case against a Webster Parish man accused of first-degree murder was moved to Oct. 12.

J’son Turk, charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Omar Lott, was in court Monday for a status hearing. Assistant district attorney Hugo Holland says the status conference was moved because defense attorney Walter Gerhardt is considering a plea deal for Turk.

“The defense attorney wanted additional time to propose a plea to me that is acceptable to the victim’s family,” he said.

Lott was shot and killed August 24, 2014, and brothers J’son and Dylan Turk were arrested in connection with the shooting. Lott’s remains were recovered in a wooded area off Walter Lyons Road three days after the shooting. Webster Parish Sheriff Gary Sexton said at the time, Lott was shot during a drug deal involving synthetic marijuana.

Turk’s brother, Dylan, is charged with accessory after the fact, and gave a sworn statement against J’son Turk, Holland said.

Dylan Turk has additional charges gained while out on bail for the charge of accessory after the fact. He was arrested in April following a disturbance at Minden Medical Center. Minden Police arrested Dylan Turk, but he continued to cause a disturbance at the police station where police chief Steve Cropper says at the time of his arrest in April, he tore up a bed in the holding cell and bit one of the officers, breaking the skin.

Dylan Turk’s attorney, Eric Johnson, says his client was in court June 1, and he pled guilty to resisting an officer with force. The remand date for sentencing is set for August 21, Johnson said.

Trial on the accessory after the fact charge is set for Oct. 19.

“We’re kind of in a holding pattern with regard to Dylan until J’son is dealt with one way or the other, either through a plea or a trial,” Johnson said.

Phone calls for comment from Gerhardt went unreturned as of press time.