A white Mississippi teenager accused of driving over  James Anderson with a truck has pleaded not guilty to capital murder.

On Friday, Deryl Dedmon appeared before Circuit Judge Jeff Weill during a brief hearing.

The judge set a Jan. 9 trial date and told prosecutors to inform the court no later than Nov. 1 if they intend seeking the death penalty.

Dedmon is charged with running down James Craig Anderson a 49 year-old black man on June 26 with a pickup in what authorities call a hate crime.

Dedmon initially was charged with murder, yet the indictment was upgraded to capital murder when authorities said they uncovered evidence that Anderson was robbed.

Dedmon is being held without bond.

Anderson’s family members have advised they don’t want anyone to face the death penalty.
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