Nathan Galli - charged with four counts of aggravated robbery - pleaded guilty Monday to one of the charges and apparently plans to plead guilty as charged to two others.
Galli, 20, pleaded guilty to robbing King's English Book Store and will be sentenced for the first-degree felony in February.Defense attorney Walter Bugden indicated the guilty plea was entered against his advice and against the advice of Galli's family.
Salt Lake County deputy attorney Robert Stott said Galli plans to plead guilty as charged to two other robberies. A fourth count will be dropped in exchange for the guilty pleas.
Galli is one of four cousins police have dubbed "the preppy bandits." The foursome is accused of working together to commit a string of robberies throughout Salt Lake County. Prosecutors accused Nathan Galli of performing a "lookout and backup" role and said he usually waited outside in a car while others committed the actual robberies.
Ironically, the majority of the evidence against Nathan Galli came from confessions he made after his arrest. Now, he's essentially pleading guilty as charged and could serve at least a nine-year prison sentence because of gun and gang-sentencing enhancements.
Galli is not expected to testify against his brother, Christopher Galli, or his two cousins, Adam Galli and Aaron Galli. All four face aggravated robbery charges and Adam and Aaron also face murder charges in connection with the death of a chef at the Green Parrot Cafe during a robbery attempt in May.
Nathan Galli is scheduled to appear before two other judges on Jan. 4 and Jan. 26 and is expected to enter the other guilty pleas then. Galli is out on bail and prosecutors agreed not to ask that he be sent back to jail until he is sentenced.
Adam Galli jumped bail just before the murder charges were filed late last month. A warrant has been issued for his arrest, but he has still not been located.