A man accused of strangling his 41-year-old girlfriend with a power cord changed his plea to guilty Friday and was sentenced immediately to one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison.
Rafael Perez Serrato, 45, entered the guilty plea to a second-degree felony charge of manslaughter for the 1990 slaying of Loretta Virginia Lovato.He had earlier pleaded not guilty to a first-degree felony charge of murder.
Third District Judge Richard Moffat imposed sentenced immediately at the defendant's request.
Assistant Utah County Attorney James Cope said he had located all prosecution witnesses and could have been ready to take the case to trial.
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Police issued a warrant for Serrato's arrest after neighbors discovered the victim's body.