EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Three men charged in what prosecutors are calling a murder-for-hire appeared in court for the first time Tuesday afternoon.
While Illinois no longer has cash bail, the state still filed the necessary paperwork to deny pre-trial releases for each suspect.
The Madison County State’s Attorney charged Sammy Shafer Jr., Gary Johnson, and Marty Shaw with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Portia Rowland.
Court documents state Shafer was behind the murder-for-hire scheme, allegedly paying Johnson and Shaw a total of $10,000 to kill Rowland.
Investigators say Johnson was the alleged shooter while Shaw drove the getaway car.
Shafer hired attorney Scott Rosenblum.
“I’m interested in trying to see some of the evidence before we have the hearing. We look forward, obviously, to entering a plea of not guilty and challenging that evidence,” he said.
Rosenblum made a motion for continuance. The judge granted the motion, and the next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 5. Shafer will remain in custody. His parents stood in the courtroom Tuesday.
“They will be completely supportive. Obviously, any parent that goes through that is devastated to see their son charged with such an offense,” Rosenblum added.
Johnson was represented by a public defender and waived his detention hearing. Shaw remains in custody in St. Louis County.
We were told that Shafer was the husband of Rowland’s girlfriend.
Friends and family are gathering Sunday at noon for a flower drop in Lyons Field in remembrance of Rowland.