A judge agreed and ordered Pomey and Gomes to return for a pre-trial conference on March 28, at which each defendant must either plead guilty and receive a sentence or renew their not guilty plea and go on to trial.

Neither the district attorney’s office nor Gomes’ lawyer would comment on how the case would proceed or on possible plea bargains that might be put on the table between now and the March conference.

“Anything is possible at this point,” said Henry R. Cashman, Gomes’ Boston-based lawyer.

Cashman declined further comment, saying he was still reviewing the case.

Pomey’s lawyer could not be reached for comment.

Neither defendant could be reached for comment last night.

The two Winthrop House residents, who neighbors say have been keeping a low profile since the indictments become public last week, both previously had answering machines, but no answering machine picked up when their phone numbers were called multiple times last night.

—Staff writer Stephanie M. Skier can be reached at skier@fas.harvard.edu.