WINONA — The two men arrested for their roles in the October murder of a Winona man appeared in court Tuesday on new counts of first-degree murder with intent.
The counts represent the work of a grand jury indictment issued Friday that increased the level of felony charges against Lonnie Lavonte Keymone Hudson, 23, the alleged gunman, and Reginald Alexander Burnett Jr., 19.
They remain in custody in lieu of a $5 million bond and a $3 million bond, respectively.
Both men will be arraigned on the new charges Monday in Winona County District Court.
Hudson faces additional counts of second-degree murder, first-degree aggravated robbery, three counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm/ammo after conviction of a crime of violence. All are felonies.
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Burnett also faces one count each of aid and abet second-degree murder, aid and abet first-degree aggravated robbery, and three counts of aid and abet second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, all felonies.
The grand jury indicted five more people in connection with the Oct. 18 murder of Adam Tylor Fort, 31.
Three others were identified after appearing Monday in Winona County District Court:
• Kayla Mae Clay, who was charged in the indictment with three gross misdemeanor counts of aiding an offender-accomplice after the fact. She was originally charged with one felony count of the same offense, and remains in custody in lieu of $200,000 unconditional bond;
• Richard Gordon Deppe, 23, who faces three counts of aiding an offender-accomplice after the fact and one count of fifth-degree drug sale, all felonies. He is in custody in lieu of $30,000 unconditional bond;
• Cornelius Conrad Dunnigan, 21, who has been charged with one count of felony fifth-degree drug sale. Conditional bond was set at $2,000.
The three will also be arraigned Monday on the grand jury charges.
The two remaining defendants haven't been identified.
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The indictments came after several days of testimony and include 28 counts against the group.
Unlike most trials, grand jury proceedings are kept in strict confidence. This serves two purposes:
• It encourages witnesses to speak freely and without fear of retaliation.
• It protects the potential defendant's reputation in case the jury does not decide to indict
Hudson and Burnett are accused of pushing their way into Fort's apartment after arranging to buy a quarter-pound of marijuana. Once inside, they reportedly pistol-whipped the man who had brought them there, then shot Fort, who died at the scene.
Clay allegedly drove Hudson and Burnett to and from the shooting.
