SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - One of the suspects charged in the murder of a Sheboygan Falls female will avoid trial due to a plea deal.
In Sheboygan County Court Tuesday afternoon, 14-year-old Antonio Barbeau changed his plea to first-degree intentional homicide, party of the crime, from not guilty by reason of mental disease/defect to no contest. This allowed Judge Timothy Van Akkeren to find him guilty for his role in the death of his great grandmother, 78-year-old Barbara Olsen, last September. A sentencing hearing has been set for August 12, where it is expected he will receive a sentence with parole eligibility after 35 years.
The other person charged in the case, 14-year-old Nathan Pappe, will still have a jury trial starting June 17. A motion hearing set for this afternoon did not proceed due to the Barbeau development.
District Attorney Joe DeCecco said the new development will change how they approach the Paape trial now that there is only one defendant. With two defendants, you can not use one defendant's interview to implement the other to the crime. With Barbeau's plea deal, that is no longer the case and DeCecco said they have subpoenaed Barbeau to testify against Paape at his trial.