FAYETTEVILLE -- A man accused of killing his cellmate at the Washington County Detention Center pleaded not guilty Monday to a capital murder charge.
Dekota James Harvey, 24, was already in jail awaiting trial on a murder charge related to the death of a woman earlier this year.
A deputy found Harvey on Aug. 27 waiting at the door of his cell and Luis Cobos-Cenobio laying on his back on the floor by his bunk bed.
Kelly Cantrell, public information officer for the Sheriff's Office, said the initial indication is Cobos-Cenobio was strangled. No weapons were found in the cell.
Harvey told the deputy he killed Cobos-Cenobio, 30, because Cobos-Cenobio wanted him to, according to a news release from the Sheriff's Office.
Harvey was moved to the cell with Cobos-Cenobio after he told a deputy he was afraid for his life, according to the news release. He specifically asked to be moved to that cell, the release said.
A not guilty plea at arraignment is typical in felony cases. Harvey was given a Nov. 18 court date. Capital murder is punishable by either life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
Harvey, of Fayetteville, was arrested in March in connection with the shooting death of Elizabeth Dawson. He pleaded not guilty to capital murder in that case.
Dawson died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, according to police reports. Courtney Willie was shot in the leg during the March 14 incident at 900 N. Leverett Ave., Apt. 363. Harvey is charged with attempted capital murder for shooting Willie.
Police said Willie kicked Harvey, her boyfriend, out of the apartment earlier that evening. He had returned to gather his belongings when the shooting happened.
Cobos-Cenobio, of Springdale, was being held in connection with attempted capital murder related to a Nov. 11 incident where shots were fired at police officers during a car chase in Tontitown and Springdale. No officers were injured.
NW News on 09/10/2019