By Patric Hedlund, TME

Steve Gilmore of Lebec pled nolo contendre (no contest) to a voluntary manslaughter charge last week in a hearing about the shooting death of Benito Carrillo, Jr. Gilmore is likely to receive 3 to 6 years in prison.

The Lebec man was arrested on December 17, 2015 and charged with first degree murder. He admitted shooting the 24-year-old Frazier Mountain High School graduate, but pled “not guilty” on January 19, 2016 at his arraignment hearing.

“I can’t tell you yet how [or why] the count was changed,” prosecuting attorney Andrea Kohler said…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Steve Gilmore of Lebec won a plea deal last week in the shooting death
of Benito Carrillo, Jr. of Frazier Park. Attorneys agreed to reduce a first degree murder charge to voluntary manslaughter. A contested sentencing hearing in July is next. He could receive up to six years in prison.

Right: Benito Carrillo, Jr. received a Falcon football award in 2007. He was killed in Lebec by a shotgun blast Dec. 17, 2015.

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This is part of the April 29, 2016 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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