LINCOLN -- A Florida woman accused of lying to help a man accused in the brutal slaying of a Beason family was denied a public defender Tuesday during a brief court appearance in Lincoln.

Sara Duncan, 43, of Sarasota, Fla., was brought to the Logan County courthouse 30 minutes ahead of a hearing scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. Logan County State's Attorney Mike McIntosh notified the media Tuesday morning that Duncan's hearing was set for 3:30 p.m. but had no explanation for why Duncan's court appearance was held ahead of schedule.

According to McIntosh, Duncan was denied a public defender by Judge Thomas Harris and given an Oct. 27 date to return to court with an attorney. Bond for Duncan remained at $50,000, meaning she must post $5,000 to be released.

Duncan is accused of providing a false alibi for Christopher J. Harris, 30, of Armington. He is charged with murdering Ruth and Rick Gee and three of their children, who were found dead Sept. 21 in their Beason home.

Also facing murder charges in the Beason deaths is Harris' brother, Jason L. Harris, 22, also of Amrington. The brothers remain in jail without bond.

Meanwhile, Duncan's daughter, Jennifer Earnest, filed a motion Monday asking that her bond be lowered on charges that she provided a false alibi for Christopher Harris.

Attorneys for Earnest argued in the motion that the $50,000 bond, requiring Earnest to pay $5,000 to be released, is excessive.

Earnest has been unable to raise the money needed for bond, said Lincoln lawyer James G. Grimaldi.

The motion states Earnest lives in Tazewell County and is the mother of a young child. Earnest and Jason L. Harris are parents of a 1-year-old daughter.

Several factors must be taken into consideration when bail is set, said Grimaldi, including the circumstances of the offense, condition of the victim, the defendant's ties to the community and any flight risk the accused may represent.

A hearing on Earnest's request is set for Oct. 22.

Police have stated that no further arrests are anticipated. A motive has not been disclosed for what authorities described as a brutal slaying that also left the family's youngest daughter, 3 years old, severely injured.