FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A judge ordered a 20-year-old to an alternative sentence in the wake of a 2023 murder.
Jayden Cheriza will serve supervised probation after completing a youthful offender program in connection with the March 2023 shooting of Clayton Peck in Fairmont.
Police charged Cheriza with first degree robbery at the time. He has since completed a program at the Anthony Correctional Center. Under terms of the deal with prosecutors, Cheriza faces a 35-year suspended sentence if he violates the conditions of his probation.
Cheriza was one of three charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy in the case. Prosecutors dropped the first degree murder charge in exchange for a guilty plea to first degree robbery.
Detectives determined the March 2023 shooting happened at the Fairmont Hills Apartments on Cleveland Avenue during a drug transaction.
Zeighshawn Meade entered a guilty plea to first degree murder. He is serving life in prison for shooting Peck in the head. Illes Williams is also serving life in prison for his role in the killing. He was 17 at the time of the shooting.
Williams will be eligible for parole after 13.5 years, according to state sentencing guidelines for juveniles.
