KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A 16-year-old teen charged with murder in adult court pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder and other charges in the May 2022 shooting death of a man in an Olathe park.
Jacobi Deonte Epting also pleaded guilty in Johnson County Court to attempted second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, and attempted aggravated robbery, according to a news release from the Johnson County District Attorney's Office.
A judge ruled on Jan. 3, 2023 that Epting, who was 14 at the time of the murder, be tried in adult court.
He was one of three Olathe 14-year-olds and one Olathe 13-year-old who were charged in the May 14, 2022, murder of Marco Cardino.
Olathe police found Cardino, 19, dead in Blackbob Park, 14500 W. 151 St.
The teens used a plan to buy marijuana from Cardino to lure him to the park to rob him.
Epting is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 24 at 9 a.m., according to the news release.
The three other teens accused in the case have been sentenced.
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