Two more enter guilty plea in Carson City Watkins murder case

Two more defendants in the 2016 Grant Watkins murder entered guilty pleas to second-degree murder on Friday.

Jacob Huttman, 21, and Jonathan Skenandore, 20, entered guilty pleas to second degree murder and conspiracy to commit robbery.

These come just two days after Reed Skenandore, the alleged gunman, and Jesus Garcia-Manriquez pleaded guilty to murder charges and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Reed Skenandore, 22, Garcia-Manriquez, 19, Allen Garcia-Manriquez, 20, Jonathan Skenandore, 20, Daniel Lease, 22, and Jacob Huttman, 21, were all charged in connection with the Jan. 11, 2016, murder of the 18-year-old Watkins.

Watkins died after being shot in the abdomen in an early morning drug deal-turned-robbery, detectives said. Detectives believe Watkins was meeting Reed Skenandore, Jesus Garcia-Manriquez, Jonathan Skenandore and Huttman around 12:30 a.m. at Blackwell Pond Park to sell the men three ounces of marijuana when Reed Skenandore allegedly shot Watkins. It was alleged in court during the preliminary hearing Allen Garcia-Manriquez helped drive his brother to the scene and Daniel Lease helped Reed Skenandore dispose of the firearms and clothing used that night.

The second degree murder charge carries a life with the possibility of parole after 10 years have been served, or a definite term of 25 years with eligibility after a minimum of 10 years has been served. The Carson City District Attorney is free to argue which penalty is most appropriate. The conspiracy charge carries a penalty of one to six years and the District Attorney is able to argue if it runs concurrently or consecutively to the second degree murder charge.

Allen Garcia-Manriquez’s case has been remanded back to the Justice Court and he’s expected to enter a plea to two misdemeanor charges for his role in the case.

All defendants were expected to go to trial March 27, however, Lease is the only defendant still scheduled for trial.

Reed Skenandore is set for sentencing on May 9 at 9 a.m. The remaining defendants haven’t been scheduled for sentencing yet.