Jonathan Weston, one of the three individuals charged in connection to the 2022 shooting death of 19-year-old Alijah Watts at Casey’s General Store was sentenced to 8.5 years in jail in Christian Circuit Court on Monday.
Weston pled guilty to facilitation of first-degree assault and first-degree wanton endangerment on September 25.
On Monday, Weston’s Defense Attorney. Angela Troutman says that she and the commonwealth had to come to an agreement that Weston would not be charged as a juvenile since he was 17 at the time of his arrest and agreed to an 8.5-year sentence.
Despite the agreement, Troutman advocated for Weston to be put on probation saying beyond this current offense he has a clean record, finished high school while incarcerated and has the chance of attending college.
Watts’ mother, Sheritta Watts attended the sentencing and shared her disagreement for Weston’s probation which was echoed by Assistant Christian County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Mark Gilbert. Gilbert says Watts will never have the opportunities that would be granted to Weston if he were to receive probation.
Circuit Judge John Atkins denied Weston’s probation saying it would minimize the seriousness of his charges, but acknowledges that Weston is doing work to better himself and has a long way to go.
Atkins then accepted Weston’s guilty plea and the agreement of an 8.5-year sentence.