HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Tyler Aaron Gibbens, 16, appears before Fifth District Judge John Davis along with his attorney, at left, public defender Jason Earnest. Advertisement

Tyler Gibbens, 16, of Pahrump, entered a plea of not guilty to first-degree murder during his arraignment before Fifth District Judge John Davis yesterday.

A jury trial was scheduled for Dec. 11 in Tonopah.

"There's some benefits to being in Tonopah," Judge Davis told attorneys. "I don't interfere with the other judge's calendar."

Gibbens was represented by public defender Jason Earnest. The defendant merely answered the basic questions at an arraignment, which included his age and the last year he completed school, eighth grade.

Gibbens is accused of shooting Anthony Risko on his 12th birthday June 8. He is in jail under $250,000 bail. Gibbens was arrested at 3951 W. Windsong Lane after sheriff's investigators determined Risko's shooting wasn't accidental.

Prosecutors charge Gibbens held a gun to Risko's head for 10 seconds and asked Risko if he was ready for the day of his birth to be the day of his death.

During the preliminary hearing last week, Nye County Chief Prosecutor Kirk Vitto said Gibbens loaded the rifle prior to pointing it at Risko, pulled the trigger, then wiped the fingerprints to hide the evidence.