Jeffrey Lee Stock was charged with Felony Murder, Rape, Theft of Property over $100, and Arson. His father, Terry Stock, appeared in court on Thursday and is out on $70,000 bond.

NEWPORT, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Accused murderer Jeffrey Lee Stock appeared in court Friday, for a hearing in connection to the case against him in the death of Megan Maxwell nearly three years ago.

Stock's trial was set for May 9th. He'll appear again March 7th for a motions hearing.

Things got heated during the court hearing, over Stock's public defender. The state wants him replaced because he wasn't appointed to this case, saying he wouldn't have been appointed until later and shouldn't have been allowed to look over the details before then.

But that public defender says he's already representing Stock on another case, and any other attorney wouldn't have time to catch up before the trial in May.

"The state, the 4th Judicial District DA's Office is very familiar with my office here in Cocke County," said Assistant Public Defender Keith Haas. "They know that we fight and we represent our clients zealously. If a case needs to go to trial, we'll take it to trial."

Maxwell's friends and family spoke outside the courtroom about the decision to keep Haas on the case. They say their rights aren't being recognized throughout the case.

"We have no rights. The public defender's office is supposed to represent the public. We are the public right here. Nobody's representing us. The public defender's office is up there representing somebody that's killed a little girl," said Mike Brady. "We want Jeff Stock life in prison. Regardless of public defender's office or DA's office. He needs to be put away."

"They can't even stop him from looking at us," said Megan's best friend Holly Lane. "How fair is that? You kno? Jeff just turn around and stare at us. We have no rights. We aren't allowed to speak what we feel, and we have to bottle it up, and what, we get one last remark to him, if they put him away? That's not enough for what we've had to live with.

But Haas insists he's done nothing inappropriate. "The state's not been prejudiced by anything that's been done. They have their witness. Mr. Green is available to them. We've done nothing to interfere with that."