By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – A 36-year-old Columbiana man indicted on a felony murder charge in January pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect on April 28, according to court documents.

Dennis Allen Little was arrested on July 10, 2014, and charged with the murder of Johnny Lee Patterson, whose body was discovered at about 11 a.m. in a home on Looney Road on July 4, according to Columbiana Police Chief Lamar Vick.

“On or about” July 3, Little allegedly “caused the death of Johnny Lee Patterson with a multi-tool knife,” court documents read.

Documents filed by the District Attorney’s Office stated Little was on probation for second-degree assault in Shelby County at the time of the alleged murder.

Little has a “lengthy history of arrests including two felony convictions” and “is believed to be violent and poses a substantial risk to the public,” documents read.

Little was also charged with public intoxication in January. His next court date is Aug. 4.