Lukouxs Alan Brown, 26, of Fort Dodge, is charged with one count of first-degree murder, a Class A felony. Brown entered his plea with a written arraignment on Wednesday, demanding a speedy trial. A trial is scheduled for Aug. 9 at the Wright County Courthouse.

Brown was arrested on Feb. 16, 2021, after Wayne Smith, 50, of Fort Dodge, was found dead in the employee locker room at Prestage Foods of Iowa, 3183 Highway 17, outside of Eagle Grove. According to the criminal complaint, Brown cut Smith’s throat around 5:40 a.m.

Brown has spent much of the last 18 months at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (Oakdale) undergoing restoration treatment after Wright County District Court Judge Gregg Rosenbladt ruled that Brown was not competent to stand trial in April 2021.

In early February of this year, doubt that Brown would see trial arose when the treating psychiatrist at the IMCC filed a report stating that “the defendant is not competent to stand trial and (after extended restoration treatment efforts) is not a candidate for continued restoration.”

However, the prosecution motioned for a second opinion and, after hearing testimony from several psychiatrists, on June 17, Rosenbladt ruled that Brown is, in fact, competent to stand trial.

If convicted, Brown faces a mandatory life sentence.