Two Men Plead Not Guilty to Murder Charge in Fatal Car Crash Case

Two East Bay men facing murder charges in connection with the killing of a Pleasanton man pleaded not guilty last week, according to the Alameda County District Attorney's office.

Deshon Collier and Jabrie Watts, both 21, are charged with murder, burglary and receiving of stolen property. The defendants were arrested after a home burglary in Newark led to a fatal car crash that killed two men.

The two are believed to have burglarized a home on Mistflower Avenue in Newark in mid-January with a third suspect. Authorities said they fled and then crashed their car.

Pleasanton resident , 69, was killed immediately after the suspects’ Chevy Malibu smashed into the two-door Honda Cheney was driving, police said.

Police said Collier and Watts leaving the third burglary suspect, , 20, inside of the car. Watkins was pronounced dead two days after the collision.

Authorities have not released information about who was driving the Chevy Malibu at the time of the crash, which occurred at the intersection of Cherry Street and Mowry Avenue.

The men are scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 8 at 9 a.m. at the Fremont Hall of Justice.

A two-day preliminary examination, which is when evidence could be introduced to the court, is scheduled for Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Fremont Hall of Justice.

Both men are being held at Santa Rita Jail on no bail.