Court dates reshuffled for couple accused of 2018 fatal robbery in Vallejo

A Solano County Superior Court judge rescheduled proceedings for a Vallejo couple accused of a 2018 robbery-murder and they now will face a midNovember preliminar y hearing in Vallejo.

Devonte Levan Hicks, 25, and Jessica Marie McCraven, 33, were scheduled to appear Wednesday in Department 7, but court records indicate they have been ordered to appear at 10 a.m. Nov. 12 in Department 7, Judge Tim Kam’s courtroom, in the Justice Building in Vallejo, where they will face a motion to amend the charges and a readiness conference. Both are scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 19, also in Department 7.

For months, as the case has proceeded through the Solano criminal court system, the couple faced Judge E. Bradley Nelson in Fairfield, but Kam is now overseeing the case, which has been subject to a series of delays in recent past months.

Hicks is represented by defense attorney Thomas Maas of Fairfield. McCraven is represented by criminal defense attorney Laura Petty, also of Fairfield.

Hicks and McCraven are being held without bail in Solano County Jail in connection with the Aug. 20 killing of a man found unresponsive in a hotel room on Enterprise Drive in Vallejo.

Besides first- degree murder, they are charged with robbery during the commission of a murder, a special circumstances enhancement.

Additionally, Hicks was initially charged with possession of a firearm, possession of prohibited ammunition, presenting a false ID to a police officer, and felony probation violations.

Besides the main charge, McCraven initially was charged with three counts of identity theft, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with an invalid license, two counts of check forgery, and burglary.

The Solano County District Attorney filed its complaint against the pair on Aug. 24, 2018.

If found guilty of the first- degree murder charge with the robbery enhancement, Hicks and McCraven may face life in prison without the possibility of parole.