photo by: Dylan Lysen/Lawrence Journal-World

Andrel D. Spates, Jr., appears in Douglas County District Court on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021.

A Lawrence man awaiting trial for first-degree murder was bound over for trial for additional drug charges on Monday.

Andrel D. Spates Jr., 20, Lawrence, is facing a marijuana distribution charge stemming back to a traffic stop in July of 2021. Spates is also facing a first-degree murder charge for the lethal shooting of Christian Willis, 21, of Wichita, on Sept. 8, 2021, in the 1500 block of Kentucky Street.

At a preliminary hearing for the new charges, Judge Stacey Donovan determined that there was sufficient evidence to take Spates to trial after the arresting officer, Charles Smyser of the Lawrence Police Department, testified that he pulled Spates over and found 3.8 ounces of marijuana in his car.

Smyser said he pulled Spates over because his tail light was out and when Spates stopped for the officer, Smyser saw evidence of marijuana in the car including a rolling tray and a backpack with baggies sticking out.

Smyser said he found a large bag of green vegetation after searching the vehicle and when Smyser asked Spates about it, Spates claimed the marijuana was for personal use for an injury he had sustained and he did not intend to sell it.

Spates’ defense attorney Adam Hall said that the evidence found in Spates’ car was consistent with a user of marijuana and that there wasn’t enough in the car to warrant a distribution charge.

Donovan set a trial date for the new charges for Oct. 12, 2022.

As previously reported by the Journal-World, Spates was charged with first degree murder after he allegedly shot Christian Willis while in the commission of a marijuana sale.

Charged in the shooting are Spates and Javier I. Romero, 19, of Lawrence. Both face first-degree murder charges.

During the preliminary hearing for Spates, Romero’s girlfriend, Caylee Nehrbass, testified that Willis had pulled a gun and shot Romero while Willis was trying to rob him during an exchange of marijuana. Nehrbass said from a balcony she saw Willis put a gun to Romero’s stomach and then Willis and Romero wrestled for control of the gun before she heard a gunshot. She then heard Spates fire a gun next to her on the balcony down toward Willis and Romero, she said.

Romero was able to escape the conflict and Nehrbass, Romero and Spates fled the scene, she said.

Willis was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to a filing in December by Hall, Spates is claiming self defense and only fired on Willis to defend Romero.

Spates is scheduled to go to trial for the first-degree murder charge on Sept. 26. Spates also faces an additional marijuana distribution charge and a possession of a firearm charge in that case.

Romero’s next court appearance for the charge is scheduled for June 6. He was recently held in contempt after refusing to testify in an unrelated shooting incident where his girlfriend, Nehrbass, was shot in North Lawrence.

Both Spates and Romero are being held in the Douglas County Jail on a $1 million bond.

photo by: Contributed

Javier Romero, left, and Andrel Spates Jr., right.