(Spencer)—A Spencer man charged with first degree murder and first degree robbery in the death of 59-year-old Edward Kitto last August has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
21-year-old Christopher Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty Monday to charges of voluntary manslaughter and conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine.
During the plea hearing, Fitzpatrick admitted to severely beating Kitto, then stealing money from his wallet.
Under the plea agreement, he faces up to 45 years in prison and will be eligible for parole after 17 years. He will also be required to pay $150,000 in restitution to Kitto’s family.
Sentencing is set for May 10th.
Fitzpatrick would have been facing a life sentence had he been found guilty of first-degree murder.
An accomplice, 21-year-old Cody Millard, has pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge. His trial is scheduled to start June 25th.
Kitto was found unresponsive in a back yard in the 500 block of East 3rd Street in Spencer. He was flown to a Sioux Falls hospital, but never regained consciousness.
