NORTHAMPTON — A New Salem man accused in the October shooting death of Jose M. Rodriguez faces even more charges after he was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday.
Soknang Chham, 33, who was originally charged with murder and armed assault with intent to murder in Eastern Hampshire District Court, now also faces charges of assault and battery with a firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon, illegal possession of a firearm as a subsequent offender and illegal possession of a firearm with two prior convictions for violent crimes, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
This Hampshire County Grand Jury indictment means Soknang Chham will now answer to the crimes of which he is accused in Hampshire Superior Court in Northampton.
The man’s brother, Soksot Chham, 35, also of New Salem, who faces a charge of being an accessory after-the-fact to murder in Eastern Hampshire District Court is due back in that court Jan. 25.
The brothers were originally arraigned in district court on Dec. 16 and pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.