LISBON — A new status hearing is now set at 1:30 p.m. June 18 in the case against a Wellsville man accused of lying to police during the investigation into the shooting death of Robert E. Herron.

Brandon Kessler, 41, 10th Street, appeared Thursday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Scott Washam for a status hearing accompanied by his defense attorney, Terry Grenga. He was in the custody of a deputy sheriff.

No trial date was set, with Washam indicating he was told negotiations are continuing. Kessler spoke briefly with his attorney regarding bond and Washam advised her she could file a written motion for reduction of bond.

Kessler was charged with obstructing justice, a third-degree felony, for allegedly not being truthful in statements he gave to investigators related to the murder case, according to county Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino. The case is being handled by county Assistant Prosecutors Tammie Riley Jones and Christopher Weeda.

Herron, 30, East Liverpool, was found shot to death behind a residential garage after Wellsville police responded to a call of possible shots fired on Tenth Street on Sept. 9, 2024. Police apparently talked to Kessler on Sept. 10, 2024, the date listed on the indictment.

Kessler’s bond remains $50,000 cash or surety.

The man accused of the murder, Jeno Wall, 34, Steubenville, recently had a new trial date of Sept. 23 set. Other new dates set in the case included an interim status hearing at 9 a.m. July 7 and a final status hearing at 9:20 a.m. Sept. 5.

Wall remains jailed under a $1 million cash or surety bond, charged with unclassified felonies of aggravated murder and murder and third-degree felony intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness in a criminal case, along with firearm specifications for allegedly using a firearm to cause Herron’s death.

His case remains pending, with Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton presiding.