BENTONVILLE -- John Armando Guerra didn't ask for forgiveness nor did he apologize after he admitted he murdered 62-year-old Edward Abel.
Guerra, 57, of Duson, La., pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated robbery Wednesday. The plea came under an agreement Joel Huggins and Jay Saxton, Guerra's attorneys, reached with Nathan Smith, Benton County prosecuting attorney.
The Sentences
John Armando Guerra, 57, of Duson, La., pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated robbery. Capital murder is punishable with life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty, so Guerra was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the aggravated robbery, which is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years or life.
Guerra didn't say much during the plea. Guerra gave short responses when Circuit Judge Brad Karren questioned him about whether he understood his rights.
Guerra told Karren he understood he was waiving his rights to jury trial and appeal. Guerra said he hadn't been coerced into taking the plea agreement.
Abel was pronounced dead Aug. 16, 2013, at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale.
Smith told Karren that Guerra broke into Abel's home. The two struggled and Abel was stabbed to death.
Springdale police were called at 11:15 p.m. Aug. 13, 2013, to Abel's home on East Brown Road. He lived in the portion of Springdale in Benton County.
A woman reported Abel left a message on her voice mail, according to court documents. The woman could hear Abel pleading with people who demanded to know where he kept a safe. Abel also could be heard telling someone to take his wallet because that was all he had, according to court documents.
Police found Abel on his kitchen floor.
Karren accepted the plea agreement and Guerra's guilty pleas.
Guerra was sentenced to life in prison without parole for capital murder. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison for aggravated robbery.
Guerra also must pay $1,620 in court costs. He received 512 days of credit for the time he spent in custody awaiting trial.
Prosecutor Nathan Smith said the facts of the case merit a life sentence.
"I decided not to seek the death penalty because I believe that life without parole is the appropriate sentence for this particular case and because the defendant's age means that he may not live long enough to be executed even if he received the death penalty due to the lengthy appellate process," Smith said after the plea. "While there are certainly cases that merit the death penalty no matter what age a defendant may be, the facts and circumstances of this case convinced me that life without parole was the appropriate sentence."
James Smith, 49, of Springdale also is charged with capital murder and aggravated robbery. He previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Drew Ledbetter, one of Smith's attorneys, told Karren the defense has had negotiations with prosecutors about a potential plea.
A pre-trial hearing for James Smith is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. July 27.
James Smith is being held without bond in the Benton County Jail.
Pamela Jerrolds of Springdale, John Adams of Springdale and Sydney Adams of Duncan, Okla., have pleaded guilty to theft-related charges in connection with the theft of gold and silver coins from Abel. They each were placed on probation and ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution. The three weren't arrested in connection with Abel's murder.
Court documents claim a plot to steal gold and silver coins from Abel played a role in the crime.
A man told police James Smith asked him to assist with a robbery where someone would hold an "old man" while someone else searched for a safe that contained gold and silver, according to court documents. The man refused to participate in the crime.
NW News on 06/25/2015