A man accused of stabbing another man to death outside of a Casper motel pleaded not guilty Thursday to second-degree murder.

Jeffrey Lee Carter, 46, is charged with killing Johnny Shane Moody following an argument near the Topper Motel on July 18. He faces 20 years to life if convicted.

Carter, who had been in Casper for only about five months before Moody's death, appeared in Natrona County District Court shackled and wearing a red jail uniform. He spoke only to answer procedural questions from Judge Scott Skavdahl.

Two other people - Jonathan Jermain Jelsma, 21, and Juan Carlos Diaz, 16 - face charges of aiding and abetting murder. A detective testified in July that both men admitted to either kicking or punching Moody during the incident.

Jelsma and Diaz, who pleaded not guilty last month, also face the possibility of life behind bars if convicted.

At a July preliminary hearing for all three defendants, a Casper police detective said multiple witnesses identified Carter as the person who stabbed Moody. One of the witnesses told police the men were arguing about a woman who accused Moody of trying to sexually assault her a few days before.

Witnesses reported seeing Carter stab Moody in the back as Moody was sitting in on a chair near the Topper Motel.

At some point, the same woman apparently punched Moody. Afterward, a group of men began punching and kicking Moody.

According to the detective's testimony, Diaz told investigators he kicked Moody twice and Jelsma said he kicked and pushed the other man. Carter, the detective testified, apparently stepped back during the melee, before allegedly stabbing Moody in the chest.

About that time, a police officer came upon a group of people on the 700 block of A Street, across from the motel. As they scattered, the officer saw one person with blood on his back running down an alley.

That man, who was later identified as Moody, was found laying partially underneath a pickup. He had been stabbed in the heart and back.

Carter remains held on $500,000 bond at Natrona County Detention Center. Skavdahl denied a request by Carter's attorney to lower the bond.

A scheduling conference for the case is set for next week.

Reach crime reporter Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.

News Tracker

Last we knew: A judge ruled Jeffrey Lee Carter, 46, should be tried on charges he murdered Johnny Shane Moody in July.

The latest: Carter pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder.

What's next: A scheduling conference for the case is set for next week.

Last we knew: A judge ruled Jeffrey Lee Carter, 46, should be tried on charges he murdered Johnny Shane Moody in July.

The latest: Carter pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder.

What's next: A scheduling conference for the case is set for next week.]]->