VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Following the sentencing of Candace Jones in relation to the killing of Dwayne French in 2020, co-defendant Richard Durbin looks ready to change his plea.

Jones received 20 years in prison as well as five years of probation following her acceptance of a plea deal that allowed her to plead guilty to the level 2 felony charge of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury.

Thursday, Richard Durbin appeared in Vigo County Superior Court III via teleconferencing for a status conference hearing. Court records indicate that the prosecution had filed an initial plea agreement offer on August 1 with the court. During Thursday’s hearing, Judge Sarah Mullican set a September 21 date for a change of plea hearing.

Should Durbin plead guilty as part of the agreement, his jury trial date of October 30 would be vacated and a sentencing date set.

Co-defendant Dwight Brown has reportedly accepted a plea agreement and is scheduled for a change of plea hearing as well on September 21.

With the guilty plea from Candace Jones and planned guilty pleas from Brown and Durbin, that would leave only Jesse James Hess as the remaining co-defendant with an open case.

Hess’s case was recently delayed after prosecutors requested a continuance on August 14. Court records show that during today’s scheduling activity new pretrial and jury trial dates were set. Hess’s Pretrial has been set for January 8, 2024, at 1 p.m., and his Jury trial is scheduled for 1 p.m. on March 4, 2024.