Suspects in South Lake Tahoe murder plead not guilty

Two of the men suspected of killing 40-year-old Dennis Wright, Jr. in South Lake Tahoe appeared before Judge Suzanne Kingsbury in El Dorado County Superior Court on Monday.

Tristan Batten, 18, and Harvest Davidson, 20, both entered a not guilty plea.

Wright was shot at the Beverly Lodge after traveling to town with 100 pounds of marijuana to sell. He died shortly afterwards at Barton Memorial Hospital.

The prosecution asked Judge Kingsbury for a change in venue to Placerville because of the number of out-of-town witnesses that would be involved in the trial. Kingsbury denied El Dorado County Deputy District Attorney Tricia Kelliher her request, but didn't rule out the possibility of a change in the future.

Judge Kingsbury did allow both Batten and Davidson be moved to the County Jail in Placerville so they may have easier access to their out-of-the-area lawyers.

The other two suspects in the case are still being sought.