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4 of 5 teens take plea deal in Travis Dairy homicide case
Suspects in the fatal robbery at Travis Dairy in Fairfield include, left to right, Dezmon Frazier, James A. Young, Osis Smith, Chelsea Johnson and James E. Williamson. (Daily Republic photos)
FAIRFIELD — Four of five teens who faced murder and felony robbery charges for the death of the elderly owner of the Travis Dairy took plea deals Thursday that will likely see them back out on the streets in just a few months.
During brief court appearances, James E. Williamson, 16, Osis “O Money” Smith, Dezmon “Young D” Frazier, both 18, and Chelsea Johnson, 19, all pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and burglary charges.
The four teen killers face a maximum punishment of four years and eight months behind bars, according to Deputy District Attorney Barry Taira. With credit for good behavior and credit for time served since their arrests in July 2011, they will likely be released from custody before summer ends.
The four killers will be back in court in March or April when they may be sentenced. The fifth teen, James A. Young, 18, was ordered to return to court March 20 when a new date for concluding a probable cause hearing may be scheduled.
According to previous probable cause hearing testimony, the five teens robbed the East Travis Boulevard business of several packs of cigarettes and $60 in June 2011 while one of them pepper sprayed and assaulted the owner, 70-year-old Ho Kim, shortly before he suffered a fatal heart attack.
Reach Jess Sullivan at 427-6919 or jsullivan@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jsullivandr.
Jess Sullivan
Discussion | 15 comments
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G-ManFebruary 21, 2013 - 8:39 pm
Let's see..you're responsible for the death of a human being..but you get off because of "good behavior"...what did they do? Eat their veggies...
Reply |elleryFebruary 22, 2013 - 2:55 am
I miss Holland Dairy and especially Mr.Ho. I expected 20 years for all of them. Is this all a good man, and a good person of our city is worth ?
Reply |G-ManFebruary 22, 2013 - 3:35 am
I hope you find peace ellery...send good thoughts to Mr. Ho and he'll receive them...personally I would be concerned that these 5 trash cans will be back on the street soon..and somehow I don't think they'll be working for Habitat for Humanity...
Reply |Bill BoyceFebruary 22, 2013 - 5:24 am
It boggles the mind and then it doesn't that the Injustice system would allow the rat pack vermin back on the streets so soon. This youth political correctness has run amuck. This is the best our illustrious attorneys can do?
Reply |GemmaFebruary 22, 2013 - 6:00 am
I think this is a Solano County issue-not a Countrywide issue. Solano County ALLOWS people to commit crimes,go to court,receive probation,reoffend,go back on probation,violate,go back on probation, FOREVER! I've heard of people in Solano County with 6 DUI'S,including accident DUI'S-NEVER serve a day in Prison. This place is PATHETIC! I didn't know Mr. Ho,but I remember everywhere I looked after his death, numerous people were writing kind words about him.He was obviously loved by MANY,MANY people.It's disgusting that these LOSERS will be walking the streets, looking for another person to rob for some Newports.
Reply |G-ManFebruary 22, 2013 - 6:18 am
Gemma I think if you'll do some digging you'll find that our court system and the lawyers that manipulate it is pretty much countrywide..I don't know how some of the lawyers sleep..it's a 3 year degree you learn everything you need in the first year..2nd year is how to charge and collect fees..3rd year is sleep techniques.
Reply |CD BrooksFebruary 22, 2013 - 7:44 am
The last guy must be the main culprit here and these kids turned over on him. It was my understanding that all parties involved in a crime where someone dies are guilty of murder. But I guess maybe not so much anymore? It is exhausting trying to figure out the rules and how they apply to each event. Plea deals are sometimes underhanded but often produce a result. Ratting out your friends is dangerous, but it shows just how much "true friendship" is valued at the street level. If they do get out, let’s hope they find the straight and narrow path.
Reply |G-ManFebruary 22, 2013 - 8:03 am
Plea deals often produce a result?..Guess that's why they call them "deals"..no deal for Mr.Ho though..he got the death sentence w/o trial or jury...no CD..virtually nil that these animals will rehabilitate..something like this usually only emboldens them..and worse people who read about them and say.."Well if they got off what's to stop me"
Reply |CD BrooksFebruary 22, 2013 - 8:31 am
G-Man, I can't disagree with you. And I certainly don't support these deals. However, they have worked it out so the only thing left for us is to hope they get out and wise up.
Reply |G-ManFebruary 22, 2013 - 8:59 am
Ahhh CD..the eternal optimist......it's been my experience that that what you don't work to hard for you don't care much about..In the case of these care bears that would be their freedom..if it's just handed back to them as if nothing happened..well you get my drift...Mr Ho deserves justice as does his family and Ichallenge anyone to show me how that was done here.
Reply |Rich GiddensFebruary 22, 2013 - 7:55 am
The Asian community should be protesting all of these injustices against them.
Reply |G-ManFebruary 22, 2013 - 11:49 pm
The Asians were never an active protesting demographic..they're probably just meditating on it...that PC enough for you Sugar Jam?
Reply |Roy WarbisFebruary 22, 2013 - 8:20 am
And we got rid of the previous DA why? I'm not seeing much difference with this do nothing guy. On the other hand, we must not hold these poor "teens" responsible for a guy dying because of their actions. Heaven forbid these poor "kids" should be actually held accountable for their actions. That might destroy their self esteem, or something.
Reply |DJFebruary 22, 2013 - 5:20 pm
Why does DR continue to print there "street names"? Are you trying to give there rep a boost or something?
Reply |G-ManFebruary 22, 2013 - 11:46 pm
Actually it's a legal thing..it would be hard to tell them apart and it would cause unecessary confusion if DR didn't do that..you see there's plently of "monies" in da hood...there's G-Money,Snoop Money,Folding Money..D-Money..the infamous O-Money,Sugar Money,Mootchie Money..SpareMoney..it's a trans generationalname...
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