MASON CITY, IA - A little more than a week before his trail was set to begin, Andre Wells pleads to a lesser charge.
Wells' trial was supposed to start March 16 in Cerro Gordo County. He was originally facing first-degree murder and first-degree burglary charges. Wells, 20, is now pleading to involuntary manslaughter and first-degree robbery for his part in the 2008 death Isidoro Erreguin.
The robbery charge carries up to a 25 year prison term. Before he gets the chance at parole he would have to serve 70-percent of that time.
Sentencing for Wells will be May 7 at 9am.
Prosecutor Carlyle Dalen is pleased with the deal saying that he, "thinks it was fair."
Under the prosecution's recommendation Wells will have to serve 18-20 years before he's up for parole.
Damion Seats had already been convicted of first-degree murder and first-degree burglary in the case and will spend life in prison. It had been thought that Seats was the trigger man in the murder while Wells provided the gun.
Jamie McFarland, who testified against Seats in the murder trial, has made arrangements to plead guilty to a lesser charge at a future date.
