BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – The attorney for Sandton Valentine Browder, who is accused in the January shooting death of his housemate in Bellaire, attempted to have charges separated during a hearing Monday in Belmont County Common Pleas Court.
Defense attorneys asked Judge Chris Berhalter to sever the murder charge from a separate charge of having a weapon under disability.
Judge Berhalter denied the motion but requested briefs from both the prosecution and defense concerning evidence and jury instructions in the case.
A deadline for a possible plea agreement has been set for June 18.
