Two of six suspected gang members accused in the execution-style slaying of the brother of a trial witness near Jenner formally accepted plea bargains Monday with prosecutors to limit their prison exposure.
Tyrone Tay of Suisun City and Boonlak Chanpheng of Santa Rosa, both 29, pleaded no contest to kidnapping with gang enhancements in the March 2, 2008 slaying of Vutha Au, 24 of Santa Rosa.
The admissions mean the men face maximum sentences of 18 years in prison instead of life without parole. They will be sentenced in June by Judge Arthur Wick.
Chanpheng's lawyer, Erik Bruce. said neither man was present at the Blind Beach parking lot killing in which Au was shot nine times. Chanpheng sent text-messages arranging Au's abduction and Tay delivered Au to the other co-defendants in his car, Bruce said.
Meanwhile, the four other defendants will be tried Oct. 14. They are suspected shooter Quentin Russell, 27; Preston Khaoone, 25; and brothers David, 22; and Sarith Prak, 24; all of Santa Rosa.
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