A man accused of a murder that occurred in 1988 stood before a judge at the Washington County Courthouse on Wednesday morning.

Kendall Dean Mitchell, a man who entered a guilty plea for first degree murder in 1988, appeared in court on Wednesday morning for an evidentiary hearing. Mitchell filed a motion saying that he is a member of the Cherokee Nation and that the crime occurred on Cherokee land.

Reports allege that Mitchell was hired by a woman to kill Flem Moody Jr. of Bixby. Mitchell has served 32 years in the department of corrections for the crime.

Mitchell appeared before Judge Russell Vaclaw at the courthouse in downtown Bartlesville via teleconference. Judge Vaclaw set a new court date for Mitchell, who is to make another appearance on Wednesday, Feb. 24th, at 9:00 a.m. Mitchell is currently in custody at the Washington County Detention Center.