Teen pleads guilty to attempted murder
Jose Rivera, 16, pled guilty as a juvenile to attempted murder. Rivera could be held in juvenile detention until he turns 21.
EPHRATA - Jose Rivera, 16, pleaded guilty as a juvenile Wednesday to attempted murder in the execution-style shooting of Dale Olmos in December 2013.
The standard sentencing range is between 12 and 18 months but he could be held in juvenile custody until he is 21. Grant County Judge John Knodell delayed the sentencing until a later date.
Because of the seriousness of the charge, Rivera was initially tried as an adult, but the prosecution told Judge Knodell that they do not have a reliable eyewitness and the victim would be unable to testify so they agreed to a plea deal with Rivera.
"The victim in this case was shot in the temple at point blank range and was basically lobotomized, and has absolutely no recollection of the events," Prosecuting Attorney Angus Lee said during the hearing.
Lee said that the other people who could be called as a witness in trial were all under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the shooting and were not reliable.
Olmos appeared in court with his family and sat about 12 feet away from the boy who admitted that he was an accomplice in his attempted murder.
The shooter in the case, Jordan Weister, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 15 years in February.
The driver of the car that transported Rivera and Weister away from the scene of the shooting pled guilty to his part and was sentenced to drug rehab earlier this year.
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