Hearings set for Lafferty's alleged accomplices

A couple accused of accepting money from Donald Lafferty in exchange for attempting to burn his home and kill his wife, Mildred, appeared in court Thursday.

It was the second court appearance for Christopher and Brandi Hicks, who knew Lafferty through a rural Bloomfield, Missouri, church where he was pastor at the time of the January 2013 fire.

Brandi Lee Hicks, 33, of Dexter, Missouri, and Christopher Hicks, 34, are charged with attempted murder, armed criminal action and first-degree arson.

The pair appeared with their lawyers. Christopher Hicks is being represented by Public Defender David Huffman Ward. Because of that, Brandi Hicks' case had to be sent to a different Public Defender's office. She is represented by Theresa Renee White of the Jackson office.

Now that both have secured legal representation, their preliminary hearings are set for 2 p.m. June 19. Lafferty's case is set for a preliminary hearing on the same day at 1 p.m.

Husband and wife remain in jail in lieu of $750,000 cash-only bond. Judge Joe Satterfield listed them as a danger to Mildred Lafferty and the community.