Murder charges in California
Back in May, 2015, Deshon Cooper, 47, and Theotis Watkins, 47, Carnell Taylor Jr., 26, and Jason Johnson, 28, forced their way into a home in an invasion-type assault in Pittsburg, California. The resident was watching TV with friends when the four broke in and began beating him. The victim was able to get his hands on a gun and he shot Taylor and Johnson who were subsequently DRT (dead right there) when the police arrived. Watkins, the getaway driver, had a GPS ankle bracelet on, which put him at the scene of the crime.
They had threatened to “kneecap” the victim which put him in fear, so he shot the pair. Now, even though they didn’t fire a shot, Watkins and Cooper are looking at murder charges for the deaths of their accomplices under California’s “provocative act” doctrine – committing an act that provokes a victim to kill criminals.
The robbery occurred around 9 p.m. when the Jewett Avenue resident was watching TV with two friends. According to police testimony, Cooper — an acquaintance of one of the resident’s sons — stopped by the home and spoke with the resident. A few minutes later, Taylor and Johnson barged into the home and began a brutal robbery, according to prosecutors.
The robbers threatened to kill the resident, while holding him at gunpoint, and demanded more money after some was handed over, according to testimony of Pittsburg police Detective Joseph Terry.
“(Taylor) said he was going to shoot (the resident) in his leg or knee cap, and began to count to five,” Terry said under oath.
Both of the crooks have entered pleas of not guilty, but they remain in jail until they each post a million-dollar bail.
Category: Guns
California’s “provocative act” doctrine – one of the very few things good about California.
Wow… my former home state getting something right? Amazing… but these two “pillars of the community” won’t be seeing the execution chamber for their crimes – just longs stays with Bubba, Thor Julio and Mr. “Tiny” at the all they can eat cockmeat sammich and tubesteak deli.
BTW – that’s the second thing they got right this year… the first thing was the disbarment of a certain attorney for shitbaggedery in the first degree.
Maybe in the “END” they will be wishing for the death penalty.
if they threaten to shoot them in the knee caps, I bet they will change their plea!!
Bills to repeal the “provocative act” doctrine to be introduced in the Cali Legislature in 3..2..1. After all, they din’ do nuthin’.
This is just an application of the good old felony murder rule, which is: Do a serious felony and someone dies in the process, and you are guilty of murder. It is a common law doctrine and not something invented in Commiefornia. Although, I am sure there is a statutory re-definition of it in the CA Penal Code.
Real winner…
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In 1992 Watkins was convicted of forcible oral copulation on a minor less than 14 years old, according to court records.
Better. Off. Dead.
May he be assraped in Hell.
Indeed if this had been handled in 1992 this shit bag would not be here to take advantage of the elderly…violent crimes are handled far too softly in this country. We treat junkies worst than those who commit violent assault. If we had a brain in our heads we’d ask why that is so.
This is good news. Something was done the way it should be done.
Are you sure this was in California?
Wait, is California sure this is a “violent crime”? They’ve screwed up their laws so bad, it’s a toss up if murder and armed robbery are now classified as violent crimes.
But will they end up in front of a Judge that will put them away or will they get a “Let ’em loose Bruce” type?
Wearing a GPS ankle bracelet to a home invasion… I wonder if NASA is missing any rocket scientists…
If Bernath had a son?
Santa may have come early this year for some. Ah yes, it was May of last year when I was practicing begging him to do something that would reinforce my belief in him. What I had asked was that he have one of his elves drop by with jewelry, ankle bracelets would be just fine.
But-but-but dey was jes’ turnin’ dey lifes aroun’. . .
Dey be havin’ go steal money so’s dey can buys dere clothes.
And dey skool books yo.
Where do these thugz come up wid dey names? Could it be genetic?
Good thing there were not “assault weapons of war and death” used or they really would have been in trouble seeing as it’s Cali