PORT ANGELES — A Forks man accused of first-degree premeditated murder in the Sept. 24 shooting death of Antonio Rodriguez-Maldonado is scheduled to go to trial Nov. 16.
Etienne L. Choquette, 45, pleaded not guilty in Clallam County Superior Court on Friday.
He faces an eight- to 10-day trial. A pretrial hearing is set for Oct. 23.
Choquette is being held on $2 million bail at the Clallam County jail.
Forks police say he shot Rodriguez-Maldonado, 33, Forks, in the back of the head near the intersection of Campbell Street and Ash Avenue late Thursday and threw the gun — a .38-caliber Colt revolver — into the Quillayute River. The weapon was later recovered.
The victim’s former girlfriend, Kellie L. White, also of Forks, was arrested the day after the shooting on investigation of conspiracy to commit murder, but prosecutors did not press charges against her.
Police said she told Choquette several times that she wanted Rodriguez-Maldonado dead.
Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly said there was not enough evidence to convict her beyond a reasonable doubt.
White, who turns 33 today, was released from jail on Wednesday.
Defense attorney Harry Gasnick was filling in for Choquette’s defense attorney, John Hayden, at arraignment because Hayden was ill, Gasnick said.
Judge George L. Wood authorized a state expert to collect DNA samples before the trial, and granted Gasnick’s request for a defense expert to be present for DNA sampling and analysis.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
