HARRISONBURG, La. — Four people charged in connection with the 1994 death of a Jonesville man pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Seventh Judicial District Court.

On May 16, a grand jury indicted Robert W. Hudson, 41, on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the September 1994 death of Timothy Littleton of Jonesville.

Hudson’s wife Celestine Hudson, 35, brother George &uot;Butch&uot; Hudson and sister-in-law Merrie Hudson were also indicted on charges of accessory after the fact to second-degree murder in connection with the incident.

Any motions filed by attorneys in the case will be heard during a trial of motions scheduled for Friday, according to the Catahoula Parish Clerk of Court’s Office.

Robert Hudson was being held in the Catahoula Parish Jail without bond., according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Celestine Hudson and George Hudson were being held in the jail on bonds of $90,000 and $200,000, respectively. Merrie Hudson has been released on a $30,000 bond.

Robert Hudson allegedly shot Littleton as Littleton and a friend tried to steal marijuana plants from a field near the Black River levee in the Grassy Lake area of south Catahoula Parish. Robert Hudson was then indicted on a charge of marijuana cultivation but not on a murder charge.

In mid-April, Butch Hudson and Merrie Hudson were arrested by Catahoula deputies on domestic violence charges in connection with a dispute at their home. Merrie Hudson then told deputies information that led the Sheriff’s Office to name Robert and Celestine Hudson as suspects, Catahoula Parish Chief Deputy Ricky White said.

Louisiana State Police searched for Robert and Celestine Hudson for several days before the couple turned themselves in May 3 at the Monroe office of attorney Stephen Hansen. State police then transported the pair to the Catahoula Parish Jail.

The couple had lived on Louisiana 124 near Jonesville before moving to Monterey several months ago.

In addition, Robert and Celestine Hudson are each charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of cruelty to animals in Concordia Parish.