2 Plead No Contest in Killing, Beating at Party

A former star quarterback at Littlerock High School pleaded no contest Friday to involuntary manslaughter in the beating death of an 18-year-old man.

Under a plea agreement, Richard Newton, 17, faces as much as four years in prison in the killing of Christopher O’Leary, who died three days after he was punched and kicked in the head during a May 19 party in Littlerock.

Newton also pleaded no contest to a felony charge of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, stemming from a second fight with a 22-year-old man at the party.

Moments after Newton’s appearance in Lancaster Superior Court, his teammate, 17-year-old Rodney Woods, pleaded no contest to assault against 22-year-old Kevin Walker. Woods faces as much as a year in County Jail and five years on probation.

Murder charges were filed against Newton and Woods originally, but they are likely to be dismissed when the two are sentenced Jan. 5 and Jan. 12, respectively, on the lesser charges, said Deputy Dist. Atty. John Portillo. Although Woods will be sentenced for his part in the beating, there was insufficient evidence to show that his actions led to O’Leary’s death, Portillo said.

A third Littlerock star athlete, 17-year-old Marcus Raines, is charged with murder and assault in O’Leary’s killing. Raines is scheduled to appear Tuesday to set a date for a preliminary hearing. Portillo would not say if Raines has been offered a plea bargain.

Portillo said it was Newton who punched O’Leary in the jaw, causing O’Leary to fall and hit his head on the sidewalk. Raines is the one who kicked O’Leary in the head, Portillo said.

“It will be much more difficult [to dispose of the case under a plea agreement] due to the nature of his conduct,” Portillo said.