Teenage girl enters plea deal in 1996 slaying

Friday, April 24, 1998 | 10:16 a.m.

The teenager charged in the 1996 slaying of 14-year-old Joie Muth has pleaded guilty to a charge of voluntary manslaughter rather than stand trial on a murder charge that could put her in prison for life.

Seventeen-year-old Michelle Ogle was set to stand trial Monday on second-degree murder charges but chose to take the plea bargain that will give her a chance at probation.

Ogle admitted to District Judge Donald Mosley that she was the one who fired the inadvertent shot that hit Muth in the chest after what was billed as peace talks between rival gangs broke down on Feb. 6, 1996.

Adrian Donacio, 19, who set the wheels of violence into motion when he pulled a pistol during the altercation outside Pittman Elementary School near Torrey Pines Drive and Washington Avenue, already has pleaded guilty to felony charges.

A June 25 sentencing date has been set for the pair, who were both Western High School students at the time of the incident, although affiliated with rival gangs.