Bassett arraignment delayed

Steven Wayne Bassett

AURORA | The arraignment for a man accused of helping to arrange a marijuana deal that led to the dealer’s death last fall has been delayed. 

Steven Wayne Bassett, 27, was scheduled to appear in court Friday for arraignment, where he will enter a plea to first-degree murder and other charges. But the hearing was pushed back until May 20, according to prosecutors. 

It wasn’t clear from court records why the hearing was delayed. 

Bassett was charged along with Maliek Bailey, 36, and Robert Lee Harper, 18, in connection with the Oct. 15 slaying of Michael Pinkus at the Crestwood Suites motel.

Harper, 18, pleaded guilty to burglary and robbery on Feb. 24, according to prosecutors. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped several other charges against Harper, including first-degree murder and kidnapping.

It wasn’t clear from court records this week what sentence Harper may face at his April 15 hearing or if he is expected to testify against Bailey and Bassett. If he is required to  testify, the sentencing could be delayed until after the other two go to trial.

The three defendants have been held without bond at the Arapahoe County Jail since their arrests last fall.

According to testimony at a preliminary hearing for Bassett and Bailey in February, Pinkus’ killers attacked him that night in an attempt to steal marijuana from him. Police later found Pinkus’ battered body inside a hotel room, his hands and feet bound.

The lead police investigator on the case testified that Bassett told police Bailey and Harper beat Pinkus after Bassett arranged to meet him at the motel to buy marijuana.

Bassett told police that Bailey was Harper’s father.

After the attack, Bassett and Bailey went to Pinkus’ nearby home to steal marijuana they thought he kept there, according to testimony.

Pinkus’ girlfriend and his roommate testified they were at the home that night with Pinkus’ young son when Bassett arrived. He and a black man wearing black cloth covering everything but his eyes searched the home for a few minutes before leaving. Based on testimony, it didn’t appear they found any drugs or any other valuables, though they did leave with all of the phones in Pinkus’ home.

The hearing lasted for a full afternoon in February and was scheduled to continue into a second day the following month, but Bailey waived his right to a preliminary hearing at the start of the second day. He later pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and is scheduled to go on trial starting in August.

Bassett went through with his hearing and a judge ruled there was enough evidence for him to stand trial.