Chad Forbes’ trial on charges in Pittman death set for Oct. 26

The last of six Newton residents charged in connection with the stabbing death of 19-year-old Jerry Alden Pittman II nearly two years ago is scheduled for trial in October.

Chadwick Ramsey Forbes, 21, of Newton was charged last June with conspiracy, a class C felony, and accessory to a felony, an aggravated misdemeanor, nearly a year after Pittman’s death.

During a court appearance on Wednesday, Forbes’ trial was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Oct. 26.

Three young men were charged with first-degree murder in connection with the case, and Forbes was one of three charged with accessory in connection with Pittman’s murder.

Newton resident Tyler Ray Oberhart, who was 17 at the time of Pittman’s death, was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Justin Alan Robuck, a former Newton resident who was living in Des Moines, was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced last November to a maximum of 50 years in prison. Robuck was 19 at the time of Pittman’s death.

Newton resident Ray Robert Travis, who was also 20 when Pittman was killed, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree robbery and was sentenced to be incarcerated for a maximum of 10 years. Two Newton teens, Mishana Cornejo and Courtney Hummel, also were charged with accessory and were sentenced to spend a year in the Jasper County Jail.

Pittman’s body was found by his father shortly after 11:30 a.m. Oct. 6, 2007, near the family’s back yard at 714 W. Third St. S. in Newton. Court records and testimony during Oberhart and Robuck’s trials indicated Pittman had been stabbed 29 times during an altercation with Oberhart, Robuck and Travis over a drug trade earlier that morning, during which Pittman gave Oberhart grass clippings instead of marijuana as expected in exchange for several Xanax pills.

According to court records, Forbes is accused of assisting Oberhart, Robuck and Travis in soliciting others to join in the assault on Pittman prior to the incident that resulted in Pittman’s death and for assisting the three following the incident by driving Robuck to Des Moines to receive medical treatment for a stab wound to his hand.

Court records also accuse Forbes of helping Oberhart, Robuck and Travis plan a false story to prevent their apprehension by authorities.

Mandi Lamb can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 424 or via e-mail at mlamb@newtondailynews.com.