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Man pleads no contest to charges in deadly Albuquerque home invasion
The other defendants
Edward Esquer, 37: Awaiting trial on first-degree murder and 32 other charges.
Jeff Fietek, 43: Pleaded guilty in July to forgery, conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance. Awaiting sentencing.
Penny Rasmussen, 24: Pleaded guilty in July to forgery, conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance. Awaiting sentencing.
Bene Vigil, 19: Charged in Children's Court with harboring or aiding a felon.
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An Albuquerque man has pleaded no contest to charges involving his role in the home-invasion death of prominent real estate developer R.J. Schaefer.
Bryan Sandoval, shackled and speaking softly, agreed to the plea Friday in Albuquerque for first-degree murder and three other charges that could net him a prison sentence of 30 to 49 years.
Sentencing is set for April 24.
Sandoval, 22, is one of five people charged in the Nov. 17, 2005, deadly robbery at the Schaefer home in the Far Northeast Heights in what Albuquerque police say was a crime fueled by methamphetamine use.
The 68-year-old Schaefer was shot and killed, and his wife, Olga, wounded by a gunshot to the chest that early morning when one in the group confronted the couple and "a problem" arose.
Sandoval is also accused of stealing Schaefer's car, later meeting up with co-defendants Jeff Fietek, 43, Penny Rasmussen, 24, and Sandoval's girlfriend, Bene Vigil, 19, to smoke meth while planning how to cash in items, including checks, stolen from the Schaefer home.
Sandoval has accused co-defendant Edward Esquer of being the shooter; Esquer has called Sandoval the shooter.
Besides the murder charge, Sandoval also pleaded no contest to charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon and bringing contraband into jail.
The latter charge stems from a separate incident that occurred May 11, 2006, when authorities say Sandoval was found to have a handcuff key while being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
The key was found wrapped in toilet paper and stuffed in Sandoval's underwear, court documents state.
Sandoval also pleaded guilty in May to an unrelated armed robbery in 2006. Under the plea agreement, that sentence will be served concurrently with the sentence he receives for the murder.
Prosecutor Theresa Whatley said Olga Schaefer agreed with Friday's plea deal and that the Schaefer children had also been advised of the plea.
Sandoval's no-contest plea does not admit guilt but acknowledges that enough evidence exists for a conviction. It carries the same weight as a guilty plea.
