Henderson man pleads guilty to helping plot robbery

     Review-Journal
      A Henderson man pleaded guilty Monday to charges he helped plot an aborted robbery that ended with an airman shot to death and the victim's boyhood friend charged in connection with the killing.
      Under the terms of the plea bargain, Roy Mancha will testify against Bill Stone, who goes to trial Wednesday for the death of Benjamin Blonde.
      Blonde, 20, came to town in November on a three-day pass from a U.S. Air Force base in California, according to police reports. He was visiting Stone, 21, a close friend from his childhood in Richford, Mich., police say.
      Less than 48 hours after his arrival, Blonde's body was found in the back seat of his parked car.
      Stone and Mancha plotted to rob Blonde of his wallet and possibly his car, according to police. The original plan was to get Blonde drunk and have some girls "roll him," according to Deputy District Attorney Gary Guymon.
      Instead, Stone directed Blonde to drive into the Henderson desert, then shot him in the head, Guymon said. Seemingly stunned by what he had done, Stone then drove the car to Mancha's without even taking the wallet, Guymon explained.
      Mancha admitted he had given Stone the gun and later, after the shooting, helped him hide his blood-soaked clothing.
      He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery and accessory to murder. He will be sentenced May 29 by District Judge Don Chairez. The plea bargain limits the judge to imposing a sentence of between five and 12 1/2 years.