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Two cousins get long terms for Berkeley killing

Jeff Shuttleworth (BCN)
Monday January 05, 2015 - 06:31:00 PM

Two cousins were sentenced to lengthy state prison terms today for the fatal shooting of a 34-year-old man in broad daylight in Berkeley two years ago. 

Maurice Thomas, 23, and Jevon Calland, 22, were both charged with murder for the shooting death of Zontee Jones in the 1000 block of Delaware Street between 10th Street and San Pablo Avenue shortly after 11 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2013. 

They pleaded no contest to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter on Sept. 24, shortly before their trial was to begin. 

Following the terms of the plea agreement, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Paul Delucchi sentenced Thomas to 21 years in prison and Calland to 16 years. 

Prosecutor Glenn Kim said he believes Thomas fired the shots that killed Jones. 

Jones' sister, Zareta Jones, said in court today that her brother's shooting death was "a senseless act." 

Delucchi agreed, saying, "It was an incredibly senseless act that unfortunately we see all too often here." 

Berkeley police Officer Jesse Grant wrote in a probable cause statement that Calland had a motive to harm Jones and had threatened him in front of witnesses the day before Jones was shot to death. 

Grant didn't say what Calland's motive was but he said Calland "made a plan with several other people to do harm" to Jones, who he said was unarmed. 

However, Grant alleged that Thomas was the person who actually shot and killed Jones. 

Referring to the alleged plan to harm Jones, Grant said, "Calland summoned one of the other persons to the scene of the murder with a firearm." 

He said, "Calland engaged the victim (Jones) in a physical confrontation and the other persons assisted him." 

After Calland was sentenced today, he turned toward his family members in court, waved at them and said, "I love you all." 

Thomas and Calland will both be transferred from Santa Rita Jail in Dublin to state prison later today.