Las Vegas Sun

November 9, 2009

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Plea agreement taken in slaying of 58-year-old

Wednesday, May 1, 2002 | 10:02 a.m.

A 22-year-old Las Vegas man accused of being the trigger man in a fatal robbery has entered a plea agreement that will guarantee he will receive a no-parole life sentence next month.

Frederick Benson pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the February 2000 death of Henry Zegler, 58. He will be sentenced June 26 by District Judge Kathy Hardcastle.

Authorities allege Benson, Lakeisha Smith, 24, and Taras Bartell Stewart, 18, shot Zegler in a dispute over a Ford Mustang and $800 in February 2000.

Zegler was able to call 911, identify Smith as one of his assailants and provide her address, Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael O'Callaghan said.

Smith pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and is serving a 20-year to life sentence, and Stewart pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with parole possible after 10 years.

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