By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

LAPLACE — Johnnie Lee Cheek, 31, charged in connection with the June 16 homicide of Capt. Octavio Gonzalez, entered not guilty pleas to a host of Jefferson Parish charges Monday His bond was set at $1.6 million.

Cheek’s attorney, Richard Gooley of Shreveport, did not attend, so an indigent defender was appointed to stand in court with Cheek at the arraignment.

A grand jury appearance has not yet been scheduled in St. John Parish. If they are indicted, the couple will be arraigned on the appropriate charges, which would be listed in the indictment.

Meanwhile, motions hearings are scheduled in Jefferson Parish – Aug. 24 for Reed and Sept. 7 for Cheek, according to the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court office.

Cheek, of Houston, was in court Friday in Jefferson Parish for arraignment. However, Goorley explained that Cheek could not be arraigned &#8220until or unless he is indicted by the grand jury.”

Goorley said he is looking forward to the upcoming court appearances, &#8220to sort out the fact and fiction in the case.”

Cheek has been charged in St. John Parish with first-degree murder of a police officer, armed robbery and two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer in St. John Parish. His case has been assigned to 40th Judicial District Judge J. Sterling Snowdy.

In Jefferson Parish, Cheek faces second-degree kidnapping and several counts of armed robbery. Again, he awaits a grand jury indictment before further proceedings may begin.

His alleged accomplice, Crystal Lynn Reed, 27, also of Houston, has told investigators she herself was kidnapped by Cheek and forced to assist him in his crimes. Her attorney, appointed in Jefferson Parish, is Susan Ciaravella.

A Mazda Millennium driven by Cheek was pulled over that night by Detective Monty Adams and Tangipahoa Deputy Keith Womack, who were working a multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking program on Interstate 10.

Before Adams could exit his vehicle, he was fired upon and struck in the left thigh. He has since been released from River Parishes Hospital and is on light duty in the sheriff’s office.

Cheek allegedly shot and killed Gonzalez, stole his unmarked Ford Expedition, made their way to Kenner, where they allegedly stole a second vehicle and Cheek led several law enforcement agencies on a lengthy chase, which ended in River Ridge. Reed was apprehended in Kenner. There, after allegedly holding an elderly man hostage, Cheek surrendered peaceably.

Meanwhile, benefits assisting the Gonzalez family have continued, the latest being a beans and rice luncheon, held Monday at The Donut Hole. And public donations may continue to be made to any Capital One Bank location.