41.0°

Jason Abbott on Friday was assigned a new lawyer, one with experience in high-profile murder cases.

Abbott's new attorney is Marcy McDannel, assigned through the state's Office of Public Advocacy.

The Anchorage attorney represented Thomas Evenson III, a Petersburg man charged with murder. She also represented John Carlin III, convicted of shooting his roommate, Kent Leppink, to death at the behest of former stripper Mechele Linehan.

Abbott's previous lawyer, Sitka public defender Jude Pate, was removed from the case because a current client of his was named as a witness in the recent grand jury indictments of Abbott.

Abbott, 18, faces four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. His trial is scheduled to start July 14.