CF man pleads guilty to role in Eagle Point murder – Eau Claire … – Leader-Telegram

CHIPPEWA FALLS One of the two men involved in the shooting death of 31-year-old Kenneth Patterson in the town of Eagle Point last March 13 pleaded guilty Thursday to his role in the murder.

Matthew L. Labrec, 21, 50 E. Spruce St., Chippewa Falls, was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon and armed robbery by use of force in Chippewa County Court. The armed robbery conviction carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The main charge of first-degree intentional homicide was read-in and dismissed, but can be considered in determining the length of Labrecs sentence.

Judge Steve Cray accepted the plea and ordered a pre-sentence investigation be conducted, with the sentencing set for May 2.

Im going to want as much information as I can gather on this situation, Cray said.

As part of the plea agreement, the state cannot request a longer sentence than what is recommended by the PSI, but the defense is free to argue for a shorter prison term.

Assistant district attorney Roy Gay said the plea deal had been discussed over recent months with then-district attorney Steve Gibbs and all the assistants in the office.

This is helpful that Mr. Labrec has taken responsibility for his actions, Gay said after the hearing. More importantly, we dont have to worry about a joint trial it will simplify matters.

Defense attorney Matthew Krische noted that Labrec could have entered a plea of no contest.

We felt a plea of guilty was just the better choice, Krische said after the hearing.

Krische said that Labrec had been forthright with officers after the shooting occurred, and he believed that a plea agreement of this nature was always something in the cards.

Labrec is incarcerated in the Columbia Correctional Institution because of prior felony convictions of armed robbery and possession of methamphetamine; he was brought to the Chippewa County Jail on Monday for the hearing.

Labrec and 21-year-old Jesse R. Lloyd, previously of 235 W. Central St., are both charged in Pattersons death. Lloyd is incarcerated at Waupun Correctional Facility. Lloyd entered a not guilty plea at a hearing in December; he is due back in court March 3 in front of Judge James Isaacson.

The criminal complaint states Lloyd shot and killed Patterson on Sunday, March 13, 2016, in the town of Eagle Point. Pattersons body was found near the intersection of 83rd Ave. and 162nd St., northeast of Chippewa Falls, by a passerby at 9 a.m. March 14. Patterson was shot once, in the right leg, striking a vein and damaging the artery, causing him to die of blood loss. Authorities believe Lloyd and Labrec intended to rob Patterson.

Labrec told authorities in the days after the shooting that they both fired guns at Patterson, but Labrecs .22-caliber long gun didnt discharge; only the hand gun used by Lloyd actually fired shots.

Labrec was convicted of possession of meth in Chippewa County Court in July 2014 and was give a three year imposed-and-stayed sentence. In April, his probation was revoked and he was sent to Dodge Correctional Institution. In May, Judge Steve Cray sentenced him to 18 months in prison for spitting at an officer.

Labrec also was charged with failure to report to jail. Labrec was released from jail on Jan. 12, 2016, and was supposed to immediately see his probation agent, but didnt go there. When he showed up the following day, he tested positive for meth in his system. During Thursdays hearing, Cray read-in and dismissed that case.

Contact: 715-723-0303, chris.vetter@ecpc.com

Go here to see the original:

CF man pleads guilty to role in Eagle Point murder - Eau Claire ... - Leader-Telegram