CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Two men facing the death penalty in the fatal shootings of an ex-Augusta couple pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of murder Tuesday in court appearances in northern California.

Robby Alan Beasley, 30, formerly of Augusta, and Elijah Bae McKay, 28, formerly of Gardiner, appeared separately before Lake County Superior Court Judge Stephen Hedstrom Tuesday afternoon. Both men entered pleas of not guilty, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Art Grothe.

Beasley and McKay are each charged with two counts of murder in the January 2010 slayings of Yvette and Frank Maddox, formerly of Augusta, who investigators said moved from Augusta to Lake County, Calif., to work for Beasley in a marijuana growing operation.

The couple’s bodies were found in early March off of Morgan Valley Road in Lower Lake, Calif.

Beasley and McKay face special allegations of committing multiple murders in the first or second degree, committing the offenses with the intent to inflict great bodily injury on the victims, and using a 9 millimeter firearm. Beasley faces  an additional special allegation that he had a prior 2007 felony conviction in Kennebec County for criminal threatening with a firearm.

Richard Petersen, of Ukiah, Calif., is McKay’s attorney while Stephen Carter, of Lower Lake, Calif., is representing Beasley.

Carter said Beasley is set for preliminary hearing Jan. 18. He said he is expecting a “longer than usual” preliminary hearing, with estimates in court on Tuesday putting the proceeding at between four and five days.

Grothe said McKay will appear April 5 for the setting of his preliminary hearing.  

In court last month, Grothe stated that, as currently charged, the men could face the death penalty or life without the possibility of parole if convicted.

He said Tuesday that the decision on how to pursue the case — either as capital murder or life in prison — will come later, likely after Beasley’s preliminary hearing later this month.

Grothe also wants to confer on the case with new Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson, who was officially sworn in on Tuesday morning, before making a final determination.

Beasley and McKay remain in the Lake County Jail in Lakeport, Calif.

On Monday, the Kennebec Journal obtained a copy of an e-mail Beasley sent his grandmother, Charlotte Beasley, telling her and his father that he was to be in court on Tuesday, and that “the charges should get dropped that day.”

He wrote, “I was in court a few weeks ago, some guy was here for 15 months and my lawyer got his charges dropped and he went home. I’m not stressed out about it and you should not worry. I’m innocent. This place falsely charges a lot of innocent people with out (sic) proof.”

Elizabeth Larson reports for www.lakeconews.com. She can be reached at elarson@lakeconews.com.