O'Kasick Denies Anoka Charges

James O'Kasick, 20, pleaded innocent Friday to charges of kidnapping and first-degree murder in the abduction-slaying of Eugene Lindgren, 32, rural Anoka, in September.
Trial was set for the spring term of third judicial district court in Anoka. The term opens April 22. O'Kasick's trial probably will be early in May.
The youth, who already is serving a life term plus 40 years on similar convictions in Hennepin county, was arraigned before District Judge Rollin Johnson in Anoka.
O'Kasick was brought to Anoka from St. Cloud reformatory under guard.
He was represented in court by Peter Barna, Columbia Heights, his court-appointed attorney.
Lindgren, a, hostage, was slain Sept. 14 while O'Kasick and his brothers, Roger, 26, and Ronald, 24, were fleeing police gunfire. The brothers had been in hiding on the Carlos Avery game farm in Anoka County after killing Patrolman Robert Fossum and seriously injuring his partner, Ward Canfield, in a Minneapolis gun battle Aug. 17.
Ronald and Roger O'Kasick were killed in the Sept. 14 gun battle. James shot him, self near the heart but recovered.
The Anoka county grand jury indicted James in January for murder and kidnapping of Lindgren. County Attorney Robert W. Johnson indicated he would not bring the youth to trial since he already is serving a life sentence.
However, O'Kasick said through his brother, Richard, Minneapolis, that he "wants a chance to have his side of the story heard."

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