Photos by Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times

The mother and stepfather of slain toddler Aveion Lewis were arraigned on murder, child neglect and cruelty charges March 2 in Roanoke Circuit Court.

Related

Previous coverage

• Couple arraigned in 2-year-old's death
• Stepdad, mom face charges of murder in Aveion Lewis case
• Slain tot Aveion Lewis memorial service rescheduled for March 13
• Service cancelled for Aveion Lewis, toddler found in landfill
• Child's body identified as Aveion Lewis
• Police poring through e-mail in toddler case
• Body found at Roanoke Co. landfill
• Search for missing toddler Aveion Lewis continues
• Roanoke toddler Aveion Lewis' dad speaks about losing his son
• Police: 2-year-old Aveion Lewis' death a homicide
• Stepfather charged in Aveion Lewis case; 2-year-old missing boy's body still sought
• Missing 2-year-old Aveion Lewis is dead, police told
• Police seek 3 men in case of missing Roanoke boy

Aveion Lewis' mother, Morgan Elizabeth Ward Lockett, will have three taxpayer-funded attorneys to help defend against charges she murdered the 2-year-old, Roanoke Circuit Court Judge Clifford Weckstein said Wednesday.

In a hearing that lasted only minutes, Weckstein appointed Roanoke attorney Art Strickland and two members of his firm, Tommy Strelka and Correy Diviney, to represent Lockett. A bond hearing to determine if the 23-year-old Roanoke woman will remain in jail until her trial was scheduled for 10 a.m. today.

Lockett and her husband, Brandon R'eal Lockett, each are charged with second-degree murder, cruelty and child neglect in the death of Aveion, whom they reported missing Jan. 14. Aveion's body was discovered in a Roanoke County landfill on Jan. 27.

Brandon Lockett, Aveion's stepfather, initially told police that intruders knocked him out and kidnapped the toddler. Later, he told police Aveion was dead.

The Department of Social Services removed Aveion from the Locketts' custody when he was 14 months old, after a report that he had been neglected. He was returned to the Locketts in September after spending about 16 months in foster care.

-- Mike Gangloff