Four men accused of conspiring to rob a Cedartown teenager, an event that police say led to his death, have waived arraignment and pleaded not guilty in connection with the May 6 incident.

Bryan Edward Williams, 39, Eric Bernard Hightower, 37, both of Rome, and Chiresico Rodriques Montgomery, 28, of Cedartown, are char­ged with murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm during a crime and theft by receiving.

Williams and Hightower are additionally charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The fourth man involved, Trenton Tyrice Williamson, 18, of Rome, is charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Arraignments are held to ensure criminal defendants understand the charges filed.

Police said the four men lured 19-year-old Jeffrey Xavier Pledger Jr. of Cedartown to Rome to rob him. During the alleged robbery on East 19th Street, Pledger was shot in the side with a 12-gauge shotgun. He was pronounced dead later at Floyd Medical Center.

Williams, a convicted felon with a criminal history dating back to 1989, fled to Atlanta and was arrested later that week by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Hightower, convicted in 2004 of robbery, remained at the scene talking with neighbors and was picked up by police later that night. Montgomery was also arrested later that night. Williamson turned himself in the next day.