EPHRATA — Court proceedings against a man accused of killing three people in Mattawa are delayed as attorneys prepare for a potential death penalty case.

J. Guadalupe Martinez-Lopez, 24, was scheduled to enter a plea this week. Grant County Superior Court John Antosz agreed to delay the proceedings on the request of Ray Gonzales, Martinez-Lopez’s defense attorney.

Martinez-Lopez is charged with three counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder.

Gonzales said the potential for this to become a death penalty case triggered special court rules requiring the public defender’s department to find a “death penalty qualified attorney.”

Washington state court rules require the defendant in death penalty cases to have two attorneys, both with a minimum of five years of experience in criminal law and experience with death penalty cases.

“We’re asking the court to delay arraignment because the general consensus is that the rules arise once the person is arraigned and the special rules become a potential reality,” he said.

Gonzales said the department has received a list from the Washington Death Penalty Assistance Center.

“We’re in contact with people, who do that sort of thing,” he said.

Martinez-Lopez, a Mexican national, contacted the Mexican consulate and is waiting for more information from them, Gonzales said.

Prosecutor Angus Lee agreed with delaying arraignment, agreeing the case has the potential to become a death penalty case.

The arraignment date was set for Tuesday, but Gonzales said he is likely to ask for another delay.