Trial of woman at center of murder of man near Farmington – The Tri-City Record
Collins is charged with premeditated murder
Sierra Collins’ first-degree murder trial was adjourned and rescheduled for December 2 after Assistant District Attorney Michael Sanchez filed a motion to adjourn.
Collins has been accused of being the mastermind behind the murder of William Johnson of San Juan County. It is alleged that she conspired with Eli Chaffin, 21, and Tyler Chaffin, 25, to go to Johnson’s home on County Road 3400 on July 24, 2022, to check on her car.
Tyler Chaffin argued and fought with Johnson, and his brother Eli Chaffin testified in court that he saw Johnson reaching for a gun and shot the man.
“I heard a gun go off. I got out of the back of the vehicle and saw Mr. Johnson reaching for a gun,” Eli Chaffin said during his sentencing hearing on July 31. “I yelled at him several times to stop. He wouldn’t, so I shot him.”
Eli Chaffin pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison. Tyler Chaffin pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Collins was mentioned several times during the July 31 hearing, where it was explained that she was Johnson’s girlfriend who developed a relationship with Tyler Chaffin while he was in rehab.
“I have reviewed over 8,400 text messages between Sierra and William Johnson,” said Mark Curnutt, Tyler Chaffin’s defense attorney, who called the messages “inappropriate.”
“It was quite obvious that Sierra Collins had the ability to provoke Mr. Johnson to absolute extremes,” Curnutt said, adding that Colling knew Johnson was a “good guy” who “openly displayed his emotions. She took advantage of that. She knew about his past actions. She could provoke things out of him.”
Curnutt stated that Collins “provoked” and “threatened” Johnson before his death.
Collins was also charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree premeditated murder for her alleged actions leading to Johnson’s death.
At a status hearing on August 5, Sanchez told District Judge Stephen Wayne that the state would seek “an expert report” from the Office of the Medical Examiner, which would require 90 days’ notice before the hearing.
Sanchez also said he expects the trial to last four days.
Defense attorney Kelly Golightley said four days was “ambitious” and the trial “could last at least five days, probably seven.”
The defense and prosecution agreed to be ready by December, and Wayne scheduled a pretrial conference in his courtroom for November 12.
