By Phil Wright East
Oregonian
PENDLETON — Joshua Charles Weeks admitted in court Monday he slayed corrections officer Buddy Ray Herron of Helix in late 2011. The 23-year-old killer now awaits sentencing.
Weeks, 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and avoided facing the death penalty. Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus said as part of the deal the state would dismiss eight other charges against Weeks at the time of sentencing.
Weeks, cuffed, shackled and clad in a faded yellow jailhouse jumper, sat between attorneys Mark Rader of Ontario and Gordon Mallon of Silverton in the courtroom at the Stafford Hansell Government Center, Hermiston.
Circuit Court Judge Dan Hill of the Sixth Judicial District asked Weeks how he felt.
“Very nervous,” Weeks said.
Full story: Weeks Admits To Killing Helix Corrections Officer