Two Shasta County Men Arrested For Cutten Murder

Jonathan Watson, Jason Belles charged with the murder of Garrett Benson

Humboldt Sentinel
12/13/08
By Sentinel Staff

REDDING -- Detectives from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office ventured east to Shasta County this week, and with the assistance of a multi-agency task force, arrested two men in the last two days for the home-invasion murder of Garrett Benson at his Cutten home on Dec. 3.

On Thursday at about 7 p.m. this law enforcement task force arrested Jonathan Henry Watson, 30, in Cottonwood, booking him into the Shasta County Jail on charges that include one count of murder. It is expected he will be transported to the Humboldt County lock-up next week.

The following day at 1:45 p.m., working with Redding Police Department investigators and the Redding Fugitive Task Force, local detectives served a warrant issued only an hour prior to arrest Jason Leon Belles, 31, at his Redding home. Belles was booked into Shasta County Jail on charges including murder, robbery of an inhabited dwelling and criminal conspiracy.

HCSO spokesperson Brenda Godsey confirmed in a release Friday that the Cutten robbery was drug related. Inside the victim’s home there were growing marijuana plants and a large amount of marijuana processed for sales.

Detectives remain in the Redding area completing their investigation, and the HCSO released photos of Belles and Watson in the hopes of uncovering witnesses who saw them in the Eureka area around the time of the murder. Watson has multiple colored tattoos on his wrists and hands. He also has a distinctive tattoo on his neck/throat of a 1950’s style vintage microphone, which is not visible in the picture. Watson is associated with a newer black Chevrolet pickup truck.

If anyone recalls seeing Watson or Belles, they are encouraged to call detective Cheryl Franco or sergeant Wayne Hanson at (707) 445-7251.