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Killer Gets 16 Years' Prison

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By TODD LESKANIC

tleskanic@tampatrib.com

Published: February 4, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Much of Jason Waterhouse's life has been spent breaking laws, but a string of crimes that ended in April likely will be his last brush with the legal system for a while.

A judge sentenced Waterhouse to 16 years in prison for the June 2007 road rage beating of a 59-year-old man and April's shooting death of a 22-year-old man.

Waterhouse, 18, of 11550 Altoona Ave., pleaded guilty in December to burglary, aggravated battery, manslaughter and unrelated drug charges. He returned to court for sentencing Tuesday.

His hopes for leniency were dashed by Circuit Judge Thane Covert.

"Mr. Waterhouse, for someone at a very young age of your life, you've engaged in a variety of violent crimes and seem to have a penchant for firearms," Covert said. "It's time to shut that down and give you some time to think about this."

On April 13, Joshua Coggins saw Waterhouse and his girlfriend, Samantha Acosta, arguing outside their home on Altoona.

Coggins, 22, tried to break up the argument but Waterhouse pulled a gun and tried to fire it at him. The weapon jammed and Waterhouse ran.

Coggins, Waterhouse and Acosta were back at the intersection of Rye Street and Altoona a short time later when the shots were fired. Coggins was taken to hospital but later died.

Authorities arrested Waterhouse on April 15 after finding him and Acosta at a Tampa motel.

Acosta initially told investigators she shot Coggins but changed her story to say Waterhouse shot Coggins in self-defense.

Coggins' family asked Covert to be harsh with Waterhouse.

"I can never get my brother back," Amanda Coggins told Waterhouse in court. "How can you do that? How can you take a life like that? You hurt my family and yours."

The first incident in Waterhouse's string of crimes happened June 22, 2007.

Richard Kleszczynski of Port Richey was driving east on State Road 54 when the car Waterhouse and his brother, Robert, were in cut him off. The occupants of both vehicles exchanged words and Kleszczynski continued on his way.

The driver of the other car chased Kleszczynski and caught up to him near Gunn Highway. Both Waterhouses got out and approached Kleszczynski's vehicle.

Jason Waterhouse punched Kleszczynski, chipping his teeth and injuring his back.

"They were looking for blood," Kleszczynski said in court Tuesday. "He was an animal. That road was full of rush-hour traffic and they could have cared less if there was a woman crossing the street with a baby carriage."

Robert Waterhouse was charged in the attack and his case is pending.

Reporter Todd Leskanic can be reached at (727) 815-1084.

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