BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Two men arrested in the Dec. 2014 murder of a man on Buffalo's east side were Thursday in State Supreme Court to face the charges against them.
Deshawn Harris and Jordan Hicks pleaded not guilty in the case before State Supreme Court Justice Christopher Burns. Harris, 26, is charged with second degree murder and Hicks, 25, is charged with hindering the prosecution.
The District Attorney's office alleges Harris shot Denell Baker on December 28 at East North and Jefferson in a vehicle driven by Hicks. Then, Hicks drove Harris away from the scene with Baker's body still inside the vehicle.
Police in Buffalo said Baker's body was found on Peach Street. Baker was 28.
Police announced the arrests in the case toward the end of March.
"There are a lot of moving parts in homicide cases, there are a lot of things that go into bringing it to this point, and then bringing it to a successful conclusion after trial or with a resolution," said James Bargnesi, Chief of the Erie County District Attorney's Office Homicide Bureau. "It takes time, but the Buffalo Police Department doesn't give up, they continue to work at it."
"I know very little about this case, so we're anxious to look at the discovery and see where this is going to go. I have a lot to talk to him about," said Jeremy Schwartz, Harris' Attorney.
During Thursday's arraignment, Bargnesi said it's his understanding that Harris has a parole detainer as well as a prior violent felony conviction for a gun and a number of warrants. As for Hicks, Bargnesi said he has a current indictment pending for a weapon. Both were remanded to custody.
The judge gave the defense 45 days to review the grand jury minutes and file motions.
If convicted, Harris faces up to 25 years to life in prison and Hicks could serve a maximum sentence of 3 1/2 to 7 years.