Concord Man Pleads Not Guilty To Killing Cousin

MARTINEZ - A 22-year-old man pleaded not guilty in a Martinez courtroom Thursday to killing his teenage cousin in a crash after a police pursuit last month in Antioch.

Javonte Mathis, of Concord, is charged with murder for the death of Torry Hines, 16, of Antioch.

Hines died in a fiery crash after a pursuit that began on the morning of Dec. 15 in Oakley, according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.

Hines was a passenger in the vehicle Mathis allegedly fled in. The vehicle slammed into a power pole and a fire hydrant and burst into flames between Wilson Street and Phillips Lane in Antioch, sheriff’s officials said.

Mathis fled on foot after the crash, leaving Hines in the burning vehicle, sheriff’s officials said. He was eventually arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on $1.1 million bail.

Aside from a murder charge, Mathis is also charged with felony causing death while evading an officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Sheriff’s deputies allegedly recovered a stolen gun at the scene on the day of the crash.

He appeared in the courtroom of Judge Cheryl Mills Thursday and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

His next scheduled appearance in court is Feb. 4.

-Bay City News