A Rio Rancho teenager has pleaded guilty to an armed robbery that authorities say began a tri-state crime spree that included an eight-hour standoff with police in Colorado.
Jesse Payne, 16, entered the plea Monday before state District Judge Art Encinias.Payne faces up to nine years in the Penitentiary of New Mexico for robbing a La Cieneguilla woman of her car at gunpoint July 16.
Sentencing was postponed for 30 days until Payne's probation officer can complete a report on his background.
Police said the robbery was the beginning of a four-day crime rampage by Payne and a friend, Vincent Bass, 16, of Santa Fe.
The teens were accused of terrorizing people and stealing vehicles, cash and guns.
Bass killed himself July 19 during a standoff with police outside a Rifle, Colo., home where the pair allegedly held a family hostage.
Payne slipped away and surrendered two days later at the Santa Fe County Detention Center, authorities said.
In exchange for Payne's guilty plea, prosecutors dropped other charges, including aggravated burglary, conspiracy, false imprisonment and larceny.
Payne faces possible other charges in Utah and Colorado in connection with a hit-and-run, a drive-by shooting, two home burglaries, the theft of a truck and the holding of hostages.
He also faces charges in Farmington, N.M., including armed robbery and aggravated burglary.
Payne is scheduled for trial in Farmington in April, said Assistant District Attorney Shelley Armstrong.