Lavaly Murder Case Back in Cumberland County Court

The suspect in the murder of Eric Lavaly in Greenup earlier this year was in Cumberland County Circuit Court this week.

23-year-old Lamont Mimms of Mattoon has been charged with counts of first degree murder, attempted first degree murder and armed robbery in Lavaly's shooting death at a home in Greenup in July. Mimms was in court this week for a hearing on evidence testing. The sample size is so small it will be destroyed by the test.

Mimms' defense attorney Ed Deters asked for either the appointment of an expert to observe the test or that certain guidelines be followed in administering the test. Judge Millard Everhart ruled that the guidelines be followed, but ruled against appointing an expert.

Meanwhile, Mimms has been remanded to Cumberland County until his trial takes place. He has been held in Champaign County and most recently in Coles County as he faced charges there, too. His case is next due in Cumberland County Court on November 21 at 10am.

Another defendant in the Lavaly case, 21-year-old Kyle Covault of Indianapolis, was also in Cumberland County Court this week for his initial appearance with counsel. Covault waived his preliminary hearing and pleaded not guilty. He will also be back in court on November 21 at 10am.

Covault is not in custody since he is still being treated for gunshot wounds he received in the altercation that resulted in Lavaly's death.

Authorities allege that Mimms, Lavaly and Trenton Adamson were at Adamson's house in Greenup with a plan to rob Covault when he arrived to do a drug deal. Instead, a scuffle ensued and then shots were fired with Lavaly killed and Covault wounded.