Juan Venegas pleads guilty prior to his third trial. Quoting the link:
Venegas made the admissions and apologized to the clerk's family Thursday afternoon after pleading guilty to the crime in Shasta County Superior Court, District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett said at a press conference.
"He entered his pleas of guilty. He turned and faced the surviving family members. He let them know that he was in fact the person who murdered David Wicks," Bridgett said.
"He had been at a casino and lost money. He was high on methamphetamine and that he went to the gas station with the intention of robbing the gas station to get money," the DA said.
Bridgett said an important condition of Venegas entering the guilty plea was that he admit to being Wick's actual murderer and also give reasons for the killing.
Another requirement was that Venegas make a statement to the Wicks' surviving members — his wife and his stepdaughter — who were present in the courtroom to hear his apology.
Venegas will be given a stipulated state prison term of 17 years, eight months, Bridgett said at a Thursday press conference.
Venegas pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, arson causing great bodily injury and mayhem, Bridgett said.
On eve of third trial, Juan Venegas tells family why he set clerk on fire, apologizes
