TEXARKANA, Texas - A 22-year-old Texarkana man pleaded not guilty to murder Monday in connection with the alleged intentional killing of a pedestrian here in January. Montavious Sharp appeared for arraignment Monday morning via video with Assistant Public Defender Clayton Haas before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell. Haas entered a not guilty plea on Sharp's behalf and Tidwell set the case for a pretrial hearing in April.
A trial date was not scheduled.
Sharp allegedly ran his Dodge pickup into Cedrigch Traylor, 35, as he walked Jan. 9 on a sidewalk along State Line Avenue near the intersection with West 21st Street, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Sharp was allegedly upset with Traylor over a work-related dispute.
A witness who stopped to render aid to Traylor reportedly told police the collision between truck and man was intentional.
After the crash, investigators noted a large amount of debris from the pickup scattered about the accident scene. A pair of rubber boots, a fishing rod and a hatchet believed to belong to Traylor were found as well.
Sharp's parents reportedly brought him back to the crash scene where he was taken into custody and a pair of keys to a Dodge truck were found in his pocket. The truck was located behind a church in the 2500 block of Maple Street. It allegedly had significant front end damage, a flat tire and a fishing reel embedded in the grill.
Sharp's charge was upgraded from aggravated assault to murder after Traylor died of his injuries in a local hospital.
If convicted of murder, Sharp faces five to 99 years or life in prison.
Sharp is currently being held in the Bowie County jail with bail set at $500,000.