A Post Falls man who pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing a man in his driveway said he lacked enough money to continue to pay his private attorney.

William Carlson, 41, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and walks with a cane, asked the court Tuesday to consider him indigent and assign a public defender to his case.

District Judge Scott Wayman declined to rule on the motion in First District Court, urging Carlson instead to fill out an application for a public defender.

Carlson is accused of fatally shooting Tyler S. Liles, 24, with one shot to the chest with a .38 caliber revolver as Liles approached Carlson as he stood in his South Gallatin Road driveway.

Carlson said Liles was aggressive. Carlson asserts he warned Liles he would shoot if he approached him. Carlson initially was charged with involuntary manslaughter and released from jail after posting surety on a $100,000 bond. Deputy prosecutors later amended the charge to second-degree murder.

According to Tuesday’s testimony, Carlson makes $435 monthly payments on a GMC Sierra. His personal property is valued at less than $2,000. Carlson is physically handicapped and his wife, the family breadwinner, recently lost her job. The couple has no savings.

Wayman denied two motions by Sean Walsh, Carlson’s attorney, who asked that a separate judge be assigned to review his client’s indigent status and to determine what state funding Carlson might utilize to assist in his case.

Wayman said he wanted to conserve judicial resources by not assigning another judge to part of the case, and if Carlson’s application for a public defender was approved, Wayman would review any other requests for financial assistance.

Carlson’s case is set for a jury trial in November.