AKRON, Ohio - A U.S. teen pleaded not guilty Friday to helping his mentor kill one man and try to kill another in a deadly Craigslist robbery scheme.

Brogan Rafferty made a brief appearance Friday in an Ohio court. His plea came after he was transferred to the adult system from juvenile court because of the seriousness of the charges.

Authorities say some applicants who fell for the scheme answered a Craigslist ad for a job at a nonexistent cattle ranch were robbed, then killed. The scheme targeted older, single, out-of-work men with backgrounds that made it unlikely their disappearances would be noted right away. Two bodies were found.

The teen was questioned by the FBI and arrested in November after Scott Davis, who answered the ad, said he was shot in the arm and escaped.

The complaint against the teen says he participated in the crimes with Richard Beasley, a 52-year-old said to have acted as his mentor.

Beasley has pleaded not guilty and could face the death penalty if convicted. As a juvenile, Rafferty cannot.