A Plymouth man accused of murder following an October robbery has pleaded not guilty to the updated charges.
36-year-old Jason Cooke appeared in Starke County Circuit Court for an initial hearing on Wednesday afternoon. The Prosecutor’s office alleges that Cooke killed Sescoe Wireman while committing a robbery on October 7th. During the incident, Cooke is alleged to have struck Wireman in the head during the altercation.
Cooke pleaded not guilty to all three counts, including an updated charge of Murder in the Perpetration of a Robbery. The other two counts remain identical alleging Robbery, and Aggravated Battery. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 111 years in prison.
Cooke was initially facing only counts two and three, but following Wireman’s death, saw the case re-filed with the upgraded charges.
Judge Kim Hall appointed Richard Ballard as Cooke’s Public Defender in the case.
Bond was denied as a result of the charge of murder.
