Thursday, April 20, 2000 | 11:07 a.m.
A Las Vegas man accused of beating to death his roommate at a mental health group home two years ago has entered a plea agreement.
Anthony Rodney Gallego, 21, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to second-degree murder Wednesday in the Nov. 25, 1997, death of Richard Daniel Moore, 36.
The two men were roommates at the group home at 4424 E. Bonanza Road when Gallego reportedly struck and/or kicked Moore in the head repeatedly, causing him to suffer a fractured skull and broken jaw.
Gallego was identified as a suspect when he couldn't be found immediately after the incident and he was arrested the following day near Torrey Pines Drive and Lake Mead Boulevard.
Although Gallego is pleading guilty but mentally ill, there is no difference in sentences for those who are not mentally ill and those who are. It simply means that if District Judge Mark Gibbons finds that Gallego was mentally ill at the time of the incident during a May 31 hearing, Gallego will receive treatment while in prison.
Gallego faces between 25 years and life in prison and will be eligible for parole after 10 years.
Gallego is scheduled to be sentenced June 14.
Kim Smith covers courts for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-2321 or by e-mail at [email protected].
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