One of four men charged in a robbery attempt that left “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor dead pleaded guilty to all the charges against him, authorities announced Thursday.
Wactor was shot and killed on May 25 as he and a coworker, Anita Joy, were walking to their cars in downtown L.A. just before 3:30 a.m. after their shifts at the Moxy Hotel, located at 1260 South Figueroa Boulevard.
As he and Joy approached his vehicle, they stumbled upon three men stealing his catalytic converter.
Prosecutors say that one of the men, 18-year-old Robert Barceleau, allegedly shot Wactor once in the chest moments before the trio fled the area. The 37-year-old was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Barceleau and his two accomplices were able to evade police until their arrest on Aug. 15. A fourth person was also taken into custody as an accessory to the crime.
On August 18, four men were charged in the case:
- Robert Barceleau, 18, of Huntington Park was charged with one count of murder with special circumstances of murder during an attempted robbery and personal use of a firearm; one count of attempted robbery with personal use of a firearm; and one count of grand theft with an allegation of principal armed with a firearm
- Leonel Guitierrez, 18, of L.A. County, was charged with one count of attempted robbery with an allegation of principal armed with a firearm; and one count of grand theft with an allegation of principal armed with a firearm
- Sergio Estrada, 18, of L.A. County, was charged with one count of murder with an allegation of principal armed with a firearm; one count of attempted robbery with an allegation of principal armed with a firearm; and one count of grand theft with an allegation of principal armed with a firearm
- Frank Olano, 22, of Inglewood, was charged with one count of accessory after the fact to murder; one count of receiving stolen property; and three counts of being a felon with a firearm
In a press release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, officials said that Gutierrez pleaded guilty on Sept. 11 to the charges against him, as well as to a separate grand theft on the same night Wactor was fatally shot.
“Today marks a significant step toward justice for the family and friends of Johnny Wactor,” District Attorney Gascón said. “Our hearts go out to all who knew and loved him, and we recognize the profound pain his loss has caused.
The 18-year-old is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov 1.
The three remaining defendants are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 16.