MCCOMB – Ex-Brookhaven policeman Jasper Pittman waived arraignment Wednesday in Pike County Circuit Court and will have an omnibus hearing at a later date, according to Brenda Williams, Pike County deputy sheriff.

Jasper Cortez Pittman

Pittman, 25, of McComb, who is being held on $400,000 bond, is charged with third-degree arson, conspiracy to commit third degree arson and accessory after the fact to murder.

Two other men and a teenager were indicted and pleaded not guilty to charges in the 2013 fatal stabbing of Kenneth Thompson of McComb. The three were arraigned before Pike County Circuit Judge David Strong last week, but the court appearance for Pittman was rescheduled to Monday after his attorney was unavailable and then rescheduled again for Wednesday after Monday’s court was session cancelled.

Prosecutors say 18-year-old LaJerrious A. Perkins, 27-year-old Greg A. Fortenberry and 15-year-old Blake Thompson, who is the victim’s son, all of McComb, are each charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy in the death of Thompson. The three are being held on $500,000 bond each.

Prosecutors say Perkins and Fortenberry also are charged with third-degree arson and conspiracy for allegedly burning Thompson’s pickup truck.

Authorities say the body of the 53-year-old Thompson was found in a shallow grave behind a house where Pittman had been living in the Pleasant Grove community east of Fernwood on Aug. 18, 2013. Officials said Thompson had been stabbed.

Pittman had been on the job with the Brookhaven Police Department for only two weeks when he was fired shortly after he was arrested in connection with the McComb case.