Current:Home > ScamsMan pleads guilty to charges related to 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor's killing -Stellar Wealth Sphere
Man pleads guilty to charges related to 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor's killing
View
Date:2025-04-27 00:57:05
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! (78)
Related
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- Columbus Crew hopes altitude training evens the odds in Concacaf Champions Cup final
- Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight postponed due to Tyson’s ulcer flare-up
- Watch: Rabbit's brawl with snake brings South Carolina traffic to a halt
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- Caitlin Clark is one of the WNBA's best rebounding guards. Here's how it helps her score
- Eiza González Defends Jennifer Lopez After Singer Cancels Tour
- Google admits its AI Overviews can generate some odd, inaccurate results
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Google admits its AI Overviews can generate some odd, inaccurate results
Ranking
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Millions of Americans are losing access to low-cost internet service
- Black leaders call out Trump’s criminal justice contradictions as he rails against guilty verdict
- Florida deputy who fatally shot U.S. airman is fired following internal investigation
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Oregon utility regulator rejects PacifiCorp request to limit its liability in wildfire lawsuits
- Don't take Simone Biles' greatness for granted. We must appreciate what she's (still) doing.
- Trump campaign says it raised $52.8 million after guilty verdict in fundraising blitz
Recommendation
Bodycam footage shows high
Black leaders call out Trump’s criminal justice contradictions as he rails against guilty verdict
Bisons catcher Henry hit by backswing, hospitalized; Triple-A game is called after ‘scary incident’
Untangling the Story Behind Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult
Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
Planned Parenthood sought a building permit. Then a California city changed zoning rules
You Won't Runaway From Richard Gere's Glowing First Impression of Julia Roberts
New Jersey attorney general blames shore town for having too few police on boardwalk during melee