04/04/2009

Associated Press

A second defendant has pleaded guilty in the shooting death of a 22-year-old Columbia man last summer.

Eighteen-year-old Michael Jaco, of Columbia, pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree robbery in the June 10 slaying of Nathaniel Bentley. Jaco had been scheduled to stand trial next week for second-degree murder.

Boone County prosecutors recommended that Jaco be sentenced to 20 years in prison.

As part of the plea deal, Jaco agreed to testify in the trials of three co-defendants: 24-year-old Damon Williams, of Ashland; 18-year-old Denzell Smith, of Columbia; and 26-year-old Malcolm Washington, of Columbia.

A fourth defendant, 17-year-old Quillan Jacobs, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and has also entered into an agreement with prosecutors.

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Information from: Columbia Daily Tribune, http://www.columbiatribune.com