Two Washington County Teens Facing Prison Terms

Two Washington County teens were sentenced by Judge Gary Gilman on Wednesday. Christopher Urista, 17 of Washington and Jamie Watkins 15, of Monongahela received identical sentences for their roles in the robbery and beating of Steven Whatley and his girlfriend in Monongahela back in December. Both men are juveniles being sentenced as adults. Plea agreements for both were reached with the District Attorney’s office. Both men will receive sentences that are single charges of felony robbery and felony conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. Those charges carry a 4-8 year sentence each and will be served concurrently. A single charge of felony aggravated assault will carry a sentence of 5 years probation to be served consecutively once the prison sentence is complete. Restitution in the amount of $26,347 will be split between both men. The sentences require that there be no contact with the victims and a drug and alcohol evaluation must be performed. Urista and Watkins will be transferred to SCI Pine Grove to begin their sentences in a juvenile wing of that facility.