Michael A. Schallert, 30, of West Frankfort made his first appearance in a Franklin County courtroom Monday morning in Benton.

After Schallert heard the charges against him, the court appointed Gene Gross as lead counsel and Brian Trentman as co-counsel in the case and set a preliminary hearing for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 30.

Schallert is accused of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed robbery and two counts of home invasion in the Oct. 18 deaths of Kandis R. Majors and Terri A. Siebeck, both of West Frankfort.

Schallert’s alleged partner in the crime, Afton Danielle Ferris, 19, formerly of Cheyenne, Wyo., made an appearance in Franklin County court on Friday.