Man charged with murder of foster child pleads not guilty

The man accused of first-degree murder in the death of his 16-year-old foster son entered a plea of not guilty at his Morristown arraignment on Thursday.

Kenneth Taylor is charged with strangling Jordan “Kaleb” Shelton to death while Shelton was living in his home in November of 2007. Taylor asserts the teen’s death came as the result of a struggle initiated by the boy.

Taylor faces life in prison if convicted at his trial, which is now set for March of 2009.

At today’s arraignment, the DA asked that Taylor’s bond be raised from the current amount of $25,000. The judge agreed, setting an amount of $50,000. Taylor, who has been free on bond, will apparently remain so, as two people have offered to provide collateral for the higher bond amount.

Taylor, who was declared indigent for purposes of legal representation, now has two attorneys. He has a public defender, and is also being represented by prominent Knoxville attorney Herb Moncier, whose fees are being paid by an unidentified donor.

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