Evan Dixon is shown during a video-conference from Houghton County Jail on Tuesday morning. Image/DMG screenshot

BESSEMER — A plea deal could come by mid-August in the case of a Hancock man charged with committing a murder in downtown Houghton last year.

A status hearing in the case of Evan Dixon was held over Zoom in 97th District Court Tuesday.

Dixon, 60, has been in jail since Nov. 17, when he was arrested in connection with the murder of Theron Duncan, 53, of Houghton at the Douglass House Saloon.

Dixon is charged with first-degree murder-premeditated, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and felony firearms, punishable by up to two years in prison.

Houghton County Prosecutor Dan Helmer said Dixon’s attorney Karl Numinen had reached out to him Monday about plea negotiations. Helmer said he was open to the possibility, but would talk to Duncan’s family first before more formal talks began.

“It was the first discussion we had, so I threw an initial number out there,” he said of his communication with Numinen. “I don’t know if he’s talking to Mr. Dixon about it.”

Numinen said Dixon authorized him to engage in plea discussions Monday.

“We will let the court know as soon as we have a decision,” he said. “Whether or not we run the preliminary exam does depend on how these negotiations transpire.”

Helmer asked Numinen if he’d received everything he needed through the discovery request, which had begun before Helmer started as prosecutor last year. Numinen said discovery had been “thorough and complete.”

After Numinen relayed a request from Dixon for some personal property to be returned, Helmer said if he receives a list of specific items, he can check to see if they have been processed.

Numinen is also waiting on the results of Dixon’s examination to determine criminal responsibility. Dixon was found competent to stand trial in June after an examination by the State Center for Forensic Psychiatry.

Even if the exam has not come back, the preliminary hearing will not be delayed, said Gogebic County District Court Judge Anna Talaska, who is presiding over the case.

Another conference will take place Aug. 14 to hear updates on the negotiations and discuss whether a preliminary hearing will be needed. If so, it will happen Aug. 16.