Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Plea agreement in beating of grandfather in Wapato

A man has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter in the beating of his grandfather near Wapato 11 1/2 years ago.

YAKIMA, Wash.

A man has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter in the beating of his grandfather near Wapato 11 1/2 years ago.

The plea agreement in the case of 31-year-old Gary Riggs was filed last week. He originally was charged with second-degree murder in the beating of 74-year-old Paul Lopez, a retired irrigation worker. The case was filed in U.S. District Court in Yakima because both men were members of the Yakama Indian Nation.

Lopez died at his home outside Wapato of a torn liver after being badly beaten in January 1997. Investigators say the beating followed a bar-hopping celebration in honor of Riggs' 21st birthday.

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Information from: Yakima Herald-Republic, http://www.yakima-herald.com

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