The man accused of killing a man visiting friends last summer at a Yorkville farm reached a plea deal with prosecutors last week.
Scott Mertins, 46, of Sturtevant, entered a plea of no contest Friday in Racine County Circuirt Court for shooting and killing Richard Greene last August, according to a story in The Journal Times.
Mertins was charged last September with first-degree reckless homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon, armed burglary, possession of a firearm by a felon and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. His plea Friday is only for the homicide charge, and the other charges have been dismissed as part of the deal Mertins made with prosecutors.
Greene and his girlfriend were visiting the owner of the farm and asleep in the pole barn when Greene was awakened by a noise. When he went to investigate, he stumbled upon Mertins, who shot him.
An autopsy by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's office revealed the cause of death as a gunshot wound that penetrated Greene's aorta and lodged in his backbone.
According to the criminal complaint, Mertins tried to elude arrest by boarding a bus for Texas, but when the bus stopped in Missouri, he was taken into custody on a parole violation.
After his arrest in Missouri, Mertins told Racine County Sheriff's deputies that he used to work for the property owner and had returned to get his some of his things. When he went into the pole barn to also steal some alcohol and a motorcycle, he saw two people sleeping. He was on his way out of the barn when Greene startled him and Mertins fired, the complaint reads.
Mertins sentencing hearing is Sept. 16 before Judge Charles Constantine, according to court records.
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