The dates have been set for the first-degree murder trial for Clifton Boggess, Jr.
Boggess is facing trial in the October 2023 death of Yuma resident Britani Meek, who was 25 at time of her death.
The trial dates of May 11 to June 1, 2026 in Yuma County District Court were confirmed during a rescheduled arraignment Tuesday morning in district court in Wray.
District Judge Kimbra Killin presided. District Attorney Travis Sides was in attendance, as was Boggess’ defense attorney Anna Schamber. Boggess participated remotely from the Logan County Jail.
There was a short break in the proceedings when Boggess addressed the court, saying he was told he would be at the proceedings in person. Judge Killin said the court did not have a request for him to be there in person. She allowed for a breakout room for Boggess and his attorney to confer.
When reconvened, Boggess officially entered a not guilty plea to all charges, which include first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased body and second-degree kidnapping.
Motions hearings will be held in February or March.
Tuesday’s hearing began with Sides questioning if Boggess should get different counsel. The arraignment first was set for October, following the preliminary hearing in late August. It was continued until this past Tuesday as Schamber and fellow defense counsel Katherine McClaughlin requested a continuation to complete their investigation and secure an expert witness. Killin, who will not preside over the trial itself, granted the continuation and ordered the parties to set up the dates for a three-week trial.
Sides said this past Tuesday that the defense has not been responsive in regards to securing an expert or even in regards to the trial dates. He said the defense is ineffective on the face of it, but acknowledged there might strategic reasons for the lack of action. He added that if not, Boggess has the right to a different counsel.
Schamber responded that Boggess wanted to retain her and McClaughlin, and there are details for not responding that she did not want to get into due to client-attorney confidentiality. She also added there turned out to be no point in getting an expert because a certain test already had been done.