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Travis Dairy slaying suspects could eye plea deals
Suspects in the fatal heist at Travis Dairy in Fairfield include, left to right, Dazmon Frazier, James P. Young, Osis Smith, Chelsea Johnson and James E. Williamson. (Daily Republic photos)
FAIRFIELD — Plea deals may soon be in the works for five young suspects who face murder and robbery charges for the June 2011 strong-arm robbery of the elderly owner of the Travis Dairy, who died shortly after the robbery.
Talk of the plea deal arose during the third day of a probable cause hearing that had been forecast to last no longer than two days. The hearing will now drag into at least a fifth day, which may not scheduled until February 2013.
Defendants James E. Williamson, 16, James Young, Osis “O Money” Smith, Dezmon “Young D” Frazier, each 18, and Chelsea Johnson, 19, have all pleaded not guilty. All five defendants are set to return to court Friday after their probable cause hearing was interrupted Wednesday afternoon.
Johnson is the only defendant who faces life in prison without possibility of parole if convicted, because she was the only adult among the defendants at the time of the robbery. The other four defendants were all juveniles at the time of the robbery and prosecutors chose to prosecute them as adults.
Much of the testimony Wednesday revolved around the defendants’ damning statements captured on police video cameras several days after the June 28, 2011, robbery of the East Travis Boulevard store. Ho Kim, the 70-year-old owner of the business, was robbed and doused with pepper spray during the heist.
After her arrest, Johnson told detective Brett Morris that her take from the deadly robbery amounted to $5, which she spent on cigarettes. Johnson told Morris her role as the driver for the robbery included fleeing to Vacaville after the robbery, taking the back roads where two of her accomplices emptied the cash register they carried out of the store, before dumping it along the side of the road. Johnson had left two of the others,
Williamson and his brother Young, at the crime scene. They fled on foot before police arrived at the store.
After his arrest, James E. Williamson told Morris his share of the loot was some Newport cigarettes. He also said he had no idea his brother had pepper spray and that he did not want Kim to be hurt.
Judge Donna Stashyn ordered the defendants to return to court Friday when a future court date will be scheduled to either finalize plea deals or to conclude the protracted probable cause hearing.
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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CD BrooksDecember 13, 2012 - 7:25 am
This case may not end well for Mr. Kim’s family and friends seeking justice.
Reply |bradDecember 13, 2012 - 9:10 am
the deals being offered in this town are sickening. i dont know how these people sleep at night letting monsters get a slap on the wrist and put in time out for a week or two.
Reply |mr taxpayerDecember 13, 2012 - 9:40 am
This reminds me of the movie "Sleepers" Let me ask you a real question; How many people bought liquor from that store and died in alcohol related accidents? How many people bought their daily dose of "cancer sticks" from this market , slowly killing themselves? How many people bought lottery tickets here when their children went without the right foods and clothes? I used to go to this store when I was seventeen and buy 40 ounce bottles of malt liquor, no ID no questions asked, cigarettes too. To me, while it is unfortunate the man had to die, the community is a better off place now that the store is gone.
Reply |CD BrooksDecember 13, 2012 - 9:57 am
Mr. Taxpayer, using your analogy we should shut down all liquor production and sales outlets, ban smoking, guns, knives and probably scissors too. Your comment is cruel and off the mark.
Reply |mr.taxpayerDecember 13, 2012 - 9:56 am
@Brad, Hey Brad, did you know that if you sent all of these kids to prison for life, and they lived to be the average age, we would(at today's rates) spend $18,750,000 keep them incarcerated? Do you know what the Fairfield-Suisun school district could do with $18,750,000? People DO NOT REALIZE that when you say "lock them up and throw away the key" YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT!!!
Reply |Christine in FFDecember 13, 2012 - 11:55 am
mr taxpayer~ $18,750,000 is money well spent if it keeps these criminals off our streets. I'm more than sure it would save lives and to me, that's priceless! Have a great weekend!
Reply |StudentDecember 13, 2012 - 1:55 pm
I know these kids, they are not criminals. Simply misguided kids who made a horrible mistake. Life in prison is ridiculous to be convicted of.
Reply |mr.taxpayerDecember 13, 2012 - 10:01 am
@CDBROOKS, if I was your 17 year old son and I had bought liquor from that store then wrecked my car and killed myself and three other teenagers I think you would be singing to a different tune. Everyone has an opinion, I thank you for yours and appreciate you listening to mine.
Reply |CD BrooksDecember 13, 2012 - 10:10 am
Mr. Taxpayer, I do respect your right to express yourself, no worries. I was just saying I thought you took a pretty broad stroke with your assertion. I too bought liquor at 16 and never got carded until my 21st birthday! :)
Reply |elleryDecember 14, 2012 - 12:50 am
you need to get laid.
Reply |elleryDecember 14, 2012 - 12:52 am
my bad, that one was for mr. taxpayer
Reply |StudentDecember 13, 2012 - 2:01 pm
Locking them up and throwing away the key is not going to make you feel safer in your community. The real issue is not the "criminals", its fixing the problem in our communities and bettering the lives of our kids, providing better opportunities so they won't feel the need to go out and commit senseless crimes.
Reply |Sir VesaDecember 13, 2012 - 7:06 pm
Student: When someone commits a criminal act, he/she becomes a criminal. These young people are criminals, and your attempt to blame "the community" is just plain ridiculous. Your attitude is indicative of the mindset that is ruining this once proud and clean community (and communities everywhere). Hopefully, with time and maturity, you will understand what I am saying. I'm not optimistic.
Reply |familyDecember 14, 2012 - 9:52 am
i love you Dezmon , and everything's going to be okay , no matter what happeneds just know that I love you and this past year and 7 months I've never stopped praying , with all my heart I miss you ...
Reply |justiceDecember 31, 2012 - 4:08 pm
Imagine if this happened to you and your family. I want justice. Those kids made the choice to rob Mr. Kim. They need to face the consequences of all actions. He died because they beated him, pepper sprayed him, and he is only 70 years old. As long as my money keeps them off the streets then I agree that it's money well spent. Justice needs to be served.
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