A plea deal involving a second juvenile charged with the 2022 shooting of Alijah Watts fell apart in Christian County Circuit Court Wednesday following a motion to sentence Jonathon Weston as a juvenile offender.
Christian McKeel was charged with driving then-16-year-old Joshua Cotton and then 17-year-old Jonathon Weston to the Fort Campbell Boulevard Casey’s with the intent to rob Watts, who was shot in the abdomen and died while trying to drive himself to the hospital.
Cotton and Weston were charged in court as adults. Cotton was found guilty of murder in September and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Weston entered a guilty plea to facilitation to first-degree assault and first-degree wanton endangerment – both are Class D felonies.
Weston’s attorney, Angela Troutman, entered a motion Wednesday asking the court to sentence Weston as a juvenile per state law.
click to download audioCircuit Judge John Atkins asked Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Bolen if Watts’ family was aware that a plea deal involving two Class D felonies would mean a lesser sentence.
click to download audioWatts was a standout athlete at Hopkinsville High School and had graduated less than a year before he was shot and killed. His mother Sherita was allowed to address the court and said the murder shouldn’t have happened and that Weston should be held accountable as an adult.
click to download audioJudge Atkins then explained the plea agreement with Bolen asking Watts if she wanted to withdraw the guilty plea.
click to download audioWeston will appear in court again on November 16 as will Cotton, who has requested a new trial through his attorney.
