Boys Plead Innocent in Killing

Tuesday, August 29th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) â€” Two 17-year-olds have pleaded innocent to charges they beat a gay black man to death, then drove over him with a car to disguise the killing as a hit-and-run.

Jared Wilson of Fairview and David Parker of Grant Town are jailed without bond on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy. Both have been transferred from juvenile to adult court, where conviction could mean life in prison without parole.

The teens are accused of pummeling Arthur ``J.R.'' Warren, a 26-year-old acquaintance, with their fists and feet during an argument at a vacant house in Grant Town, near Morgantown.

Authorities say the boys then dumped Warren along a road and ran over him four times with a car in a failed attempt to disguise his injuries as a hit-and-run.

Prosecutor Richard Bunner said after Monday's arraignments that he planned to file a motion to obtain blood samples from both suspects for DNA testing. A hearing on the motion was scheduled for Sept. 18. No trial date has been set.

Wilson's attorneys declined comment Monday. Parker's attorney, Stephen Fitz, said only that he expects the boys to be tried separately.