FAIRBANKS -- Trials before a federal judge have been scheduled in May for four people accused in what authorities say was a plot to kill government officials.

The defendants face both federal and state charges. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner said it's common for court schedules to change after initial trial dates are set.

The paper said that at a Thursday hearing, Lonnie and Karen Vernon of Salcha were scheduled to go on trial May 16 on charges of threatening to kill a federal judge and an IRS agent.

Lonnie Vernon, Schaeffer Cox of Fairbanks and Coleman Barney of North Pole were scheduled to stand trial May 23 on federal weapons charges.

The four, and Michael Anderson, face trial May 30 on a variety of state charges.