Three convicted of murder in deadly 2020 shooting outside Sacramento-area hotel
Three people have been convicted of murder in the killing of a man lured to a Sacramento County hotel in February 2020 and each face possible life terms in state prison in the deadly shooting.
Sacramento Superior Court jurors on Thursday returned guilty verdicts against Bertrand Embrous Keeton, 38; Cleveland Joseph Pratt Jr., 32; and Lafonjaney Moultrie, 28, convicting the three of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Lumont Otis at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Old Foothill Farms, said Sacramento County District Attorney’s officials in a statement announcing the verdict.
The three face sentencing before Sacramento Superior Court Judge James Arguelles on Dec. 19. Keeton, Pratt, and Moultrie remain held without bail at Sacramento County Main Jail awaiting the December hearing.
Sacramento County prosecutors alleged at trial that Moultrie on Feb. 28, 2020, lured Otis to the hotel in the 5300 block of Date Avenue under pretense of a date. Pratt, Moultrie’s boyfriend, who had purchased a cellular “burner” phone the previous day, waited outside the hotel for word from Moultrie that Otis was inside.
Once Moultrie made the call to Pratt, he relayed Otis’ location to Keeton, who waited for Otis to leave and gunned him down outside the hotel. Prosecutors said Otis was shot multiple times in the back as he left the Crowne Plaza, since renamed the Wyndham Sacramento.
Keeton faces up to 75 years to life in state prison. Jurors found true allegations that Keeton was a felon in possession of a firearm and that Keeton personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing death. Pratt faces a maximum state prison term of 50 years to life. Moultrie faces a maximum term of 25 years to life for her role in Otis’ death.
Allegations that Keeton and Pratt have a prior strike conviction for firing a weapon at an inhabited dwelling will be heard by Arguelles at the December sentencing hearing.
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