Chasse Stevens left the Carter County Courthouse Thursday bound over for trial for the 2007 murder of Jimmy Fite.
District Attorney Craig Ladd called six witnesses to the stand, including Carter County Deputy Rick Batt who led the 28-month investigation into Fite’s death.
An eyewitness also took the stand telling Special District Judge Thomas Baldwin who presided over the hearing, he was at Stevens’ Lone Grove auto shop when Stevens shot and killed the 56-year-old victim.
Ladd supported witnesses testimony with DNA reports that confirmed Fite’s blood was on the floor of Stevens’ shop.
The district attorney also presented reports from the Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy was conducted after Fite’s body was recovered from the Washita River March 16, 2007.
Stevens was arrested July 29 on a warrant charging him with Fite’s murder.
Law enforcement officers arrived at his Comanche Street residence and notified Stevens’ of the warrant.
But the 28-year-old Ardmore man refused officers’ orders to come out of house.
A team of deputies led by Batt and assisted by Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers and parole officers, entered the house.
Stevens was quickly detained without further incident.
At the time of his arrest Stevens was found in possession of illegal weapons and marijuana, leading to additional felony charges.
Within days of his arrest he was also charged with assault after he scuffled with detention officers at the Carter County Detention Center.
Stevens was originally scheduled to appear in district court Oct. 30 for preliminary hearing.
However, the court date was postponed when his defense attorney, David Slane, Oklahoma City, notified the court he was too ill to appear with his client.
Slane was in court with his client Thursday.
Following the preliminary hearing evidence submitted by Ladd, Baldwin ruled he found probable cause to believe the state’s allegations and that Stevens was the person who had committed the murder and the subsequent crimes. Baldwin ordered Stevens bound over for trial.
Formal arraignment is set for Dec. 2.
Stevens was returned to the county jail, where he is incarcerated on a $2 million bond pending the outcome of his trial.
Marsha Miller, 221-6529
