His appearance in Halifax County District Court before Judge Brenda Branch was relatively brief.

Assistant District Attorney John Lohman read the charges Caesar faces to Branch — two counts of murder and a fugitive warrant for desertion.

Branch told Caesar if the state proves he is guilty of murder he could receive life or death.

She appointed Roanoke Rapids attorney Sammy Webb. “Attorney Webb has experience in capital murder cases,” Branch told Caesar.

Webb this afternoon described his appointment as a provisional one which allows IDS time to consider its appointment in the case. Webb said he could end up being assigned the case because of his experience with murder cases.

Webb said he will be representing Caesar in the fugitive warrant, which reflects the 18-year-old Marine was absent without leave from the United States Marine Corps.

Sheriff Wes Tripp said Monday, after Caesar was served a warrant for the April 11 murder of Roderick Mills, it is not expected Caesar will be extradited any time soon for the desertion charge, saying it would take a judge’s order for him to be returned.

Caesar is still expected to have a May 16 court date for the charges against him, where by that time IDS will have most likely decided on an attorney in his case.

Caesar has not only been charged in the shooting death of Mills, 33, but in the death of his grandmother, 74-year-old Sally Copeland Evans, whose body was found in the Deep Creek Road area of the county Friday after she was reported missing Thursday.