LAKEPORT >> The investigation into the homicide of Maurice Oliver Watts III, who was shot last Christmas Day while he attempted to break into the home of James and Nora Jean, appears to be nearing its completion as the Jeans approach an arraignment hearing on their charges for possession of marijuana for sale and committing a felony while armed, among other charges.
District Attorney (DA) Chief Deputy Richard Hinchcliff said he planned to meet with a Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) investigation officer to discuss the LCSO”s investigation into the incident Wednesday.
“My understanding is that the Sheriff”s Office”s investigation is either complete or close to complete,” Hinchcliff said. “After I review it, there could be more investigation work that needs to be done.”
The investigation has taken this long, Hinchcliff said, because the LCSO has been buried in home invasion robberies and homicide investigations and it took the sheriff”s office a while to find the potential witnesses it needed to interview.
Once the investigation is completed and reviewed, the DA”s Office will decide whether it will be filing charges against the Jeans for the homicide.
Hinchcliff declined to provide further information on the investigation as he didn”t want to interfere with the suspects” right to a fair trial under an impartial jury.
Currently, James Jean is facing charges of possession of marijuana for sale, committing a felony while armed, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition and possession of bullets with an explosive agent. Nora Jean is accused of possessing of marijuana for sale, committing a felony while armed and possessing bullets with explosive agents.
Their charges stem from the investigation prompted by the Christmas Day fatal shooting of Watts. When deputies arrived at the Jeans” property, they were directed to Watts” body, who was found with a replica handgun near his body, according to LCSO.
As the property appeared to have been a previous marijuana grow site, the LCSO Major Crimes Unit secured a search warrant for the Jeans” property and, finding hundreds of pounds of semi-processed marijuana, the narcotics unit responded to conduct a marijuana sales investigation.
A total of 980.9 pounds of marijuana, three handguns, 13 rifles including several high-powered, assault-style weapons and restricted armor piercing and tracer ammunition was allegedly found, according to a LCSO press release.
The couple entered a plea of not guilty to all charges in January.
Attorney Jeffrey Schwartz, representing James Jean, said he will be contesting the amount of marijuana his defendant is charged with, as well as the charge for the Jeans” intention to sell it.
“From what I can tell, the police report is grossly overblown,” Schwartz said. “We are definitely disputing the numbers on the weight of the marijuana.”
According to Schwartz, police reports will often record the weight of entire marijuana plants instead of just the weight of the marijuana in its processed form.
“It”s a preliminary weight; it”s not illegal but it does look good on a press release,” he said.
Although Schwartz wouldn”t give details on his argument against the charge for selling the marijuana, he said the Jeans” marijuana plants constituted a “medical marijuana grow, period.”
Additionally, Schwartz said he would be shocked if the Jeans were charged with the homicide as Watts had a “horrendous” record of similar home invasions and other charges.
“If it”s a grower”s fault for attracting home invasions, then its the bank”s fault when a robber shoots a guard because it had all that money in there,” Schwartz said.
The Jeans” arraignment hearing will be held Nov. 4.
