Current:Home > FinanceMan pleads guilty to charges related to 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor's killing -Prime Money Path
Man pleads guilty to charges related to 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor's killing
View
Date:2025-04-16 03:17:40
One of the four people charged in connection to the death of "General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor has entered a guilty plea in the case.
Leonel Gutierrez, 18, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and grand theft, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday. Gutierrez, who is free on $120,000 bond, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 1.
According to the Los Angeles Times and CBS News, Gutierrez faces up to four years and eight months in prison with his current charges.
Wactor, who was best known for his role as Brando Corbin on "General Hospital," died from a gunshot wound to the chest in downtown Los Angeles on May 25. He was 37.
The cases against alleged conspirators Robert Barceleau, 18; Sergio Estrada, 18 and Frank Olano, 22, are pending. They have all pleaded not guilty to felony charges and are scheduled for a preliminary hearing setting on Oct. 16.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
The four men were arrested on Aug. 14. Barceleau – who allegedly shot Wactor in the chest, per investigators – and Estrada were each charged with one count of murder, one count of attempted robbery and one count of grand theft.
Olano was charged with one count of accessory after the fact to murder, one count of receiving stolen property and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
If convicted under the current charges, Barceleau faces life in prison without parole. Estrada faces a maximum of life in prison. Gutierrez faces four years, eight months in prison, and Olano faces five years, eight months in prison.
Johnny Wactor's mom: 'Grief is my constant companion'
Wactor was shot around 3 a.m. May 25 during an attempted catalytic converter theft in the 1200 block of Hope Street, per LAPD's May 28 news release. Officers "began to render aid" to Wactor, who was later transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"Based on witness statements, Wactor had ended his shift as a bartender at a local bar and walked to his vehicle. When Wactor arrived at his vehicle, he was confronted by three individuals who had Wactor's vehicle raised up with a floor jack and were in the process of stealing the catalytic converter," LAPD reported. "Without provocation, the victim was shot by one of the individuals."
During a news conference in downtown Los Angeles last month, Wactor's mother, Scarlett Wactor, said “Grief is my constant companion,” according to The Associated Press.
"I can’t wish him happy birthday on Aug. 31 — he would have been 38," she continued. "I can’t ask if he’s coming home for Christmas. I can’t ask how his day went.”
veryGood! (4243)
Related
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- Travis Kelce dresses to impress. Here are 9 of his best looks from this NFL season
- Google is rebranding its Bard AI service as Gemini. Here's what it means.
- Georgia football zooms past own record by spending $5.3 million on recruiting
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- New York woman sentenced to probation and fines in COVID aid fraud schemes
- 200 victims allege child sex abuse in Maryland youth detention facilities
- Kelly Rowland Weighs in on Jay-Z’s Grammys Speech About Beyoncé
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- In possible test of federal labor law, Georgia could make it harder for some workers to join unions
Ranking
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- Henry Fambrough, member of Motown group The Spinners, dies at 85
- Ukrainian-Japanese Miss Japan pageant winner Karolina Shiino returns crown after affair comes to light
- 5 missing Marines found dead after helicopter crash in California, officials say
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- 200 victims allege child sex abuse in Maryland youth detention facilities
- Kristin Juszczyk Reveals How Taylor Swift Ended Up Wearing Her Custom Chiefs Coat
- Henry Fambrough, the last surviving original member of The Spinners, dies at 85
Recommendation
Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
Inert 1,000-pound bomb from World War II era dug up near Florida airport
Wisconsin elections official claims he’s done more for Black community than any white Republican
'I'm worried about our country': How NFL owner Robert Kraft targets hate with Super Bowl ad
A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
Zillow launches individual room listings as Americans struggle with higher rent, housing costs
Man who diverted national park river to ease boat access on Lake Michigan convicted of misdemeanors
Gov. Shapiro seeks school-funding boost to help poorer districts, but Republicans remain wary