Former UC Berkeley janitor takes plea deal in murder case
Sweven Waterman has been found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and agreed to an 11-year prison sentence for the killing of Curtis Marsh.
A murder suspect who was working as a janitor for UC Berkeley at the time of his arrest has taken a plea deal in connection with the killing of an Oakland stylist and drag performer.
In a brief hearing in late December, 40-year-old Sweven Waterman entered a no-contest plea to the voluntary manslaughter of 53-year-old Curtis Marsh on March 4, 2023.
Waterman, who was originally charged with murder and other allegations, also admitted he was on parole or probation at the time of the killing.
As part of the plea deal, which took place Dec. 27 before Alameda County Superior Court Judge Clifford Blakely, Waterman agreed to an 11-year prison sentence rather than proceed to trial.
The homicide case grabbed headlines from the start when Waterman, a felon with a long list of convictions, was arrested at Cal and charged with fatally stabbing Marsh at his home near Lake Merritt.
Marsh was quickly identified as a beloved member of the Oakland Gay Men's Chorus, a natural-born performer who "brought style and verve to every event."
"Curtis was a member of Olivet Oakland Church," his family wrote in his obituary. "He loved to sing and sang in the church choir. He loved to perform in drag shows and had a larger than life personality."
"He loved to travel," his obituary continued. "He adored his family, especially his mother. He referred to her as 'the' mother because she was everything to him."
Emilie Raguso
The Scanner wrote a detailed report outlining key prosecution evidence in the case after a preliminary hearing last year.
In the hearing, prosecutor Jake O'Malley described how Lime scooter records, cellphone data, DNA and surveillance footage all pointed to Waterman as Marsh's killer.
"We may never know what exactly transpired in that apartment, but we do have, at least for … the level of proof required for a holding order, that [the] defendant was in that apartment when [the] victim was killed," O'Malley had argued. "His DNA is found on that murder weapon."
Read more court coverage on The Scanner.
According to police, Marsh and Waterman communicated by phone between 5:11 a.m. and 5:23 a.m. on the day of the homicide.
Surveillance footage captured Waterman entering Marsh's apartment building on Vernon Street around 5:30 a.m., authorities said.
A few hours later, at about 7:45 a.m., police said Waterman left Marsh's apartment just after neighbors heard fighting and several loud booms, according to court testimony last year.
Neighbors saw Curtis Marsh walk onto his rear patio covered in blood and screaming for help. At least one person saw him collapse.
When police found Marsh on his patio, he had multiple stab wounds, including to his neck, back and head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Waterman is now slated to be sentenced Jan. 31 by Judge Kimberly Colwell who will have to sign off on the plea deal before it's final.
As of this week, Waterman remains in custody without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.
