Family members of armed robbery suspect Marion A. Watts Jr., upset that he remains incarcerated, broke into a loud argument Wednesday in the parking lot of New London Superior Court that drew the attention of judicial marshals, city and state police.

Marshals and New London police kept the arguing parties separate while awaiting state police, who have jurisdiction at the state courthouse. Though a woman had been screaming, and there was discussion of somebody "laying hands" on her, nobody was arrested.

Watts, 20, of 239 Nautilus Drive, Apt. 143, New London, is being held in lieu of $75,000 bond on charges he accosted a female in Cedar Grove Cemetery on Sept. 25 with a knife and demanded money. The female, who pretended she was talking on her cellphone, didn't give Watts any money, and he ran from the scene. The female provided a description that led to Watts' arrest later in the day, according to police.

Watts confessed that he had just been to the courthouse to pay restitution for an earlier case in which he was charged with stealing money from the Henny Penny convenience store on Route 85 in Waterford, where he worked, according to court documents. He said he saw the female in the cemetery, and "before he knew it, he went up to her and said give me your money," according to a police report.

He was charged with attempted first-degree robbery, attempted sixth-degree larceny and carrying a dangerous weapon.

On Wednesday, Watts' family members seemed to be under the impression that Judge Hillary B. Strackbein was going to release him from custody. But it was only his first appearance in the court where major crimes are heard. Attorney Kevin Barrs from the public defender's office entered a not guilty plea on Watts' behalf and said attorney Matthew G. Berger would be appointed to represent Watts, who returns to court on Dec. 17.

k.florin@theday.com