A busy 2010 Rhea County Circuit Court schedule is set to begin next week with the year's first of four murder trials. Three more are set to begin before mid-year.

William Minton, 42, will go before a jury Thursday for the 2008 death of Carlos McCuiston, also known as Cotton Sandell.

Minton is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, felony first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery.

The incident that left McCuiston,46, dead happened in the early hours of July 24, 2008, at McCuiston's apartment on Memorial Street in Dayton.

McCuiston's nephew, Allen Smith, reportedly found his uncle's body around 2:30 a.m. in the cast-iron tub in the bathroom. Responding officers discovered Minton, who appeared to be intoxicated, lying on the grass in front of the apartment, police reports state. Minton was immediately arrested for public intoxication and transported to Rhea County Jail.

The living room of McCuiston's apartment was reportedly littered with beer bottles and cans, and the furniture was in disarray, according to police reports. Dayton Police Chief Chris Sneed said shortly after the incident that McCuiston's body was found sprawled in the tub, and he appeared to have been dead for only a short time.

McCuiston had some blood on his lip and some sort of a wound on his head, according to Sneed's earlier report.

Sneed said the two men appeared to have been drinking buddies and had apparently known each other for most of their lives.  Additionally, McCuiston was in poor health at the time of his death; he had recently been released from the hospital following a 45-day stay and had a pacemaker installed.

Minton and the alleged murder victim both have lengthy criminal histories. Since 2000, McCuiston had been arrested 18 times, primarily for public intoxication and contempt of court charges. During that same time Minton was arrested 10 times, including his arrest in connection with McCuiston's death.

A grand jury indicted Minton of the charges in October 2008. Police also allege they found jewelry from McCuiston's home on Minton, hence the especially aggravated robbery charge.

He has been held on $250,000 since his indictment.

If convicted of the murder charges, Minton could face life in prison.

Three other murder trials are slated to start by the end of June.

Larry Rothwell, 51, was indicted for murder in the December 2007 shooting death of Joey Shirley on Hiwassee Highway. His murder trial is set to begin March 29.

Rothwell has been free on a $75,000 bond since February 2008.

Jimmy Lee Kight, 21, of Harriman, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, especially aggravated robbery and abuse of a corps last spring. The charges followed the discovery of the remains of his mother, Sandra L. Lantz, in January 2009 near Pierce Hill Road.

He is being held on a $125,000 bond. His trial is scheduled to begin April 28.

Roy Len Rogers is set to be tried for murder beginning on June 28 in connection with the slaying of his soon-to-be ex-wife's boyfriend, Greg Brown, in July 2007.

He posted a $250,000 bond in November 2007.

In a non-murder trial, James Ryan Stephenson is set to be tried on Feb. 18 on a voluntary manslaughter charge. He posted a $30,000 bond last April.

Police allege he stabbed 31-year-old Chris Reagan last March with a bladed novelty cane after an altercation over a video game.

Michael Reneau can be contacted at michael.reneau@rheaherladnews.com.