URBANA – The third of four men charged with a 2008 murder of a Champaign man Friday asked a judge to appoint an attorney for him.

DeMarco Taylor, 19, who listed an address in the 800 block of Scottswood Drive, Urbana, was arraigned on five counts of first-degree murder alleging that he participated in the Dec. 19, 2008, fatal shooting of James Ellis.

Ellis, 34, was shot inside a garage made into an apartment at 1909 Joanne Lane, C, that day in the presence of his young children. His stepson, Tyrone Franklin, 18, of the 2400 block of East Oregon Street, Urbana, is believed to have been the gunman.

Warrants were issued Tuesday for Franklin, Taylor, Laniel Bradley, 21, of High Court, Urbana, and Jonathan Brumfield, 20, who police say is currently in an Illinois prison.

The charges against the group allege they shot Ellis while attempting to rob him of drugs and money. If convicted, they face a maximum of 75 years in prison.

Judge John Kennedy appointed Urbana attorney James Dedman to represent Taylor, who is being held on $1 million bond.

In court Friday, Assistant Public Defender Pam Burnside unsuccessfully argued for a bond reduction. She said Taylor lives with his mother and was scheduled to begin classes at Urbana Adult Education on Monday.

Assistant State's Attorney Joel Fletcher said Taylor is currently on first-offender probation for possession of a controlled substance. He had a previous adjudication as a juvenile for resisting a peace officer, Fletcher said.

Kennedy set Taylor's next court date for Sept. 20.