Circuit Judge Sam Pope has denied Richard Carson Owens’ motion for acquittal of first-degree murder charges in the April 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Jacob Stockstill.

Owens, a 20-year-old Crossett man who was committed to the State Hospital last year after he was declared unfit to stand trial, filed the motion for acquittal based on psychiatric reports from the State Hospital.

The State Hospital report, however, conflicted with a report from Dr. Myeong W. Kim, a clinical psychologist who conducted a psychological examination of Owens for the state. Dr. Kim found that Owens did not suffer from mental disease.

Pope denied Owens’ motion for acquittal, ruling that the matter would be settled by a jury. A trial date has not yet been set.

Owens was found fit to proceed with trial. The issue before the jury will be whether he had a mental disease at the time of the homicide.

Owens is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, first-degree battery and committing a terroristic act on April 14, 2012.

He is alleged to have approached a vehicle and asked Stockstill and 19-year-old Kenton Pittman, both of Crossett, if they knew where he could purchase marijuana. Getting “no” in response to his question, he allegedly fired shots into the vehicle.

A bullet struck Pittman in the hand and another struck Stockstill in the side. Stockstill was airlifted to Jefferson Regional Medical Center where he died.