Suspect in Highland homicide makes initial court appearance

CROWN POINT | A Highland man returned from out of state last week to face a murder charge in the shooting of his girlfriend appeared Monday in a Lake County court.

A judge entered a preliminary not guilty plea for Douglas Smith, 26, who allegedly fled to Florida after the Jan. 14 shooting of his girlfriend, Jacqueline Williams, 28.

Smith is accused of killing Williams during an argument after the couple returned home from a Highland bar.*

Smith was in the custody of the Sumter County, Fla., sheriff when charges were filed in Lake County on Jan. 17.

On Monday, Smith said he is not in need of a public defender and will hire a private attorney. He is next scheduled to appear in court Feb. 6, when he may enter a formal plea.

The court also set an omnibus hearing for March 26.

* Editor's note: This story has been corrected from an earlier version.