Murder defendant avoids trial, pleads guilty to lesser crime

While Richardson stacked the bricks, a fourth man stood up and began shooting at Richardson and Williams, investigators reported.

An accused drug dealer charged with first-degree murder pleaded guilty to a lesser crime Tuesday and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Ken dal La ron Richardson, 30, pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking charge and avoided a jury trial. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the murder charge.

Richardson and three others were charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of

Joshua Williams on Sept. 22, 2017, inside a home in the 1600 block of NE 20, police said. Williams, 28, was fatally shot during a drug transaction involving approximately 62 pounds of marijuana.

In his plea paperwork, Richardson admitted possessing more than 25 pounds of marijuana.

“Mr. Richardson, normally I don't comment on pleas and plea agreements, but I believe that you made a wise decision today given the circumstances that I am aware of in your case,” Oklahoma County District Judge Natalie Mai told the defendant.

Witnesses told investigators that Richardson and Williams arrived in an SUV, then Richardson carried a gym bag inside the residence. The two men went to a kitchen table where Williams and another man began discussing the transaction, investigators reported.

Witnesses said Richardson began to unload the bag, which contained bricks of marijuana. While Richardson stacked the bricks, a fourth man stood up and began shooting at Richardson and Williams, investigators reported.

Richardson ran out a back door. Williams was shot multiple times and died at the scene, police reported.

Co-defendants Ronnie Brans on and T rev ion Moten pleaded guilty last year to first-degree murder and each received 20-year prison sentences, court records show. Prosecutors dismissed murder and trafficking counts against a fourth co-defendant, records show.