Attorney: Murder Charge "Inappropriate" For Suspect In Crash That Killed Pleasanton Man

Fremont — An attorney representing one of two men charged with the murder of a Pleasanton man killed in a car crash says he believes the murder charge is excessive.

Deshon Collier, 20, who has lived in San Leandro, Union City and Hayward and Jabrie Watts of Oakland and Hayward, also 20, appeared briefly in court today to enter a plea for murder and burglary charges they face stemming from a fatal crash in Newark.

Attorney Ernie Castillo said before court started Friday morning that he plans to challenge the murder charge Collier faces.

“We feel the murder charge is not appropriate for my client. My client was not the driver,” Castillo said before the 9 a.m. court appearance.

Who was driving the vehicle is still under investigation, Castillo said.

Castillo said on an emotional level, Collier has remained “very distraught that the victim died.”

“[Collier] took it really hard and is still dealing with the reality of that. His heart and sympathies go out to the victim’s family,” Castillo said.

Castillo and attorney William Linehan, who represents Watts, requested for the pair’s plea to be delayed Friday morning. Judge Dennis McLaughlin granted that request and pushed it to February.

Collier and Watts were charged Thursday afternoon on three felony charges: murder, burglary and receiving of stolen property. They are both being held at Santa Rita Jail on no bail.

Collier and Watts were arrested Jan. 18 in Newark after trying to flee a crash scene on foot that occurred after a robbery. Authorities said a witness reported that three men kicked down his neighbor’s door on mid-block Mistflower Avenue around 9:54 a.m. on Jan. 18.

Authorities said an officer attempted to pull over three suspects in the Chevy Malibu when the driver of that vehicle fled southbound on Cedar Boulevard at speeds nearing 80 miles per hour.

The Chevy eventually crashed into a two-door Honda, instantly killing the Honda's driver, Robert Cheney, 69, of Pleasanton.

The third suspect, Rajwaun Watkins, suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead two days later at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.

Watts and Collier left Watkins, 20, who was trapped underneath the Chevy, according to a report filed in court by Newark police Detective David Higbee.

Higbee said the Chevy that the suspects used was rented by Collier's mother and that the suspects stole jewelry and a watch in the burglary at the home on Mistflower Avenue.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office alleges that Watts has prior convictions for attempted second-degree robbery and second-degree commercial burglary, while Collier has a prior conviction for assault with a
deadly weapon.

In court Thursday, an Alameda County superior court judge noted that Watts' prior convictions included a robbery conviction from February 2011 and another robbery conviction in 2010.

Online court documents also show that Collier was convicted and sentenced for a variety of charges stemming from a 2009 incident.

Those charges included carrying a loaded firearm, negligent shooting of a firearm, exhibiting a deadly weapon that is not a firearm and knowingly receiving stolen property totaling more than $400.

The prior convictions could increase the prison sentences for Watts and Collier if they are convicted of the current charges. Police say Watkins also had a prior criminal record.

Collier and Watts are scheduled to return to the Fremont Hall of Justice at 9 a.m. on February 27 in Department 605.

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Bay City News contributed to this report.