Corey Lyons on Wednesday, June 17, pleaded not guilty in the murders of his brother, Daniel Lyons, and his sister-in-law, Barbara Scharton, who were shot to death in their Mesa home on May 4. A preliminary hearing has been set for July 1 with Judge Brian Hill presiding.
According to the prosecution, Lyons has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstances of multiple murders and murder for financial gain.
The unusually expeditious scheduling of the preliminary hearing, according to the defense, may be attributed to the defendant’s desire for evidence against him to be brought forth as soon as possible. In October 2008, the victims filed a case against Lyons alleging that he owed them in excess of $350,000 for the extortion of funds and the delayed progression of construction on their Mesa home.