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Three men charged with fatally shooting a Temple Hills man who was their alleged accomplice during a botched robbery attempt in December pleaded not guilty Thursday in District of Columbia Superior Court.

A grand jury has indicted the men — Lynn Daniel Wilkerson, 33, of Hyattsville; Jarvis Clark, 19, of Temple Hills; and Arvel Crawford, 19, a Washington, D.C., resident and the shooting victim's son — on charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, gun possession and other related counts.

The indictment comes several days after one of two other men charged in connection with the shooting — Reginald Jones, 41, an Upper Marlboro resident and District police officer — pleaded guilty before Judge Michael L. Rankin. Rankin also oversaw Thursday's proceedings.

Jones pleaded guilty Monday to charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. The fifth suspect, Rashun Parker, 27, of Camp Springs, pleaded guilty Dec. 23, also on charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

All five men are accused of plotting to rob a man who they believed was a drug dealer in Southeast Washington. One of the alleged robbery conspirators, Arvel Stewart Alston, 40, of Temple Hills, was accidentally shot and killed as the robbery unfolded the evening of Dec. 1, according to Jones' statement and other documents relating to the case. The robbery victim was also shot but survived.

The rest of the men allegedly fled the scene, according to police.

Wilkerson was also indicted on charges of obstructing justice and tampering with evidence after Alston was killed. Crawford faces an additional charge of possessing a pistol without a license.

None of the men spoke during Thursday's hearing. Several members of Crawford's family attended the hearing but declined to comment.

Wilkerson's attorney, Kevin McCants, speaking after Thursday's hearing, said he expects Jones and Parker will testify against Wilkerson, Crawford and Jones, but is not worried about them hurting his case.

"The indictment is based on convicted felons trying to save themselves," he said, referring to Parker's prior criminal history.

Clark's attorney, Michael O'Keefe, participated in the hearing by phone and was not available for comment. Crawford's attorney, Jon W. Norris, could not be immediately reached for comment, but in the past has said Crawford was not involved in the alleged robbery and shooting.

A status hearing for Clark, Crawford and Wilkerson is scheduled for Oct. 7. Status hearings for Parker and Jones, who could each face life in prison on the second-degree murder charge, are scheduled for Friday and Feb. 4, respectively.

ztillman@gazette.net