One of three defendants charged in the July stabbing death of a Casper man may not stand trial.

A change of plea hearing for Jonathan Jelsma, 21, has been set for Friday in Natrona County District Court. At such hearings, defendants often enter into plea agreements with prosecutors.

Jelsma's trial was scheduled to begin Dec. 8. The trial of the remaining defendants - Jeffrey Lee Carter and Juan Carlos Diaz - is still set for that date.

Casper police arrested the defendants following the July 18 death of Johnny Shane Moody near the Topper Motel, on the 700 block of East A Street. A police officer found Moody lying in a nearby alley with knife wounds to his chest and back.

Prosecutors charged Carter, 46, with second-degree murder and allege he stabbed Moody twice after an argument. One witness told police the men were arguing about a woman who had accused Moody of trying to sexually assault her a few day before.

Jelsma and Diaz, a 16-year-old being charged as an adult, are suspected of assaulting Moody during the incident. They both faces charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

The three defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. They could each face a prison sentence of 20 years to life if convicted.

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