Update-
By: Channel 9 Eyewitness News
news@kcautv.com
Shortly before noon Tuesday, a judge accepted a plea deal that will put a Sioux City man in prison for over 50 years for the crowbar murder of a Northside man.
James Kroll now admits that he broke into the Northside home in June of last year and beat Jeffrey Moravek and Mary Tope with a crowbar while they slept. Kroll had been dating Tope's daughter. She was home at the time of the attack.
Under the plea deal, James Kroll's first-degree murder charge has been amended to second-degree murder. Kroll has pled guilty now to that charge as well as attempted murder. A third charge of first-degree burglary has been dropped.
Kroll faces a maximum of 50 years on the first charge and another 25 for the second. He has to serve at least 52 and 1/2 years in prison before he will be eligible for parole.
Kroll's sentencing is set for February 13th.
By: Channel 9 Eyewitness News
news@kcautv.com
A Sioux City man is offering to plead guilty for his role in the bludgeoning of two people that resulted in one man's death and serious injuries to a local woman.
The incident happened in June of last year, police say James Kroll broke into the window of a Sioux City home and attacked a couple with a crowbar while they were sleeping.
Jeffrey Moravek died of his injuries, his girlfriend Mary Tope was seriously in juried. Kroll had been dating Tope's daughter. Police say Tope's daughter was at home when the attack happened.
Kroll was initially charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and first-degree burglary. As part of a plea agreement, Kroll is offering to plead guilty to second-degree murder for Moravek's death as well as attempted murder.
If the judge accepts the plea agreement, Kroll would face 50 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge and another 25 years in prison for attempted murder. Kroll would have to serve 70% of his sentence before being eligible for parole. That would mean he would spend 52 and 1/2 years in prison.
At this hour, the judge is going over with Kroll the implications of pleading guilty to the charges. He has yet to officially accept the plea deal.
We have a reporter in the courtroom and will bring you the latest as it happens.
