Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Teen girl admits role in murder

A 16-year-old girl accused of participating in a murder that yielded her boyfriend a death sentence admitted to the crime in court Tuesday.

Alicia Burns was 15 when she was arrested in the September slaying of Las Vegan Pedro "Pete" Villareal. Authorities alleged Burns and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Steven Kaczmarek, lured Villareal into a robbery that ended with murder.

Prosecutors said the pair went to an apartment with Villareal, who was expecting to pay for sex with Burns. The victim was choked unconscious and had a sock stuffed down his throat. His hands were tied and he was placed face down in a tub with the water running.

In a confession to police, Burns admitted stomping on Villareal's neck.

In court Tuesday morning before District Judge John McGroarty, Burns pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

"I was involved in a robbery and the guy died," Burns, a runaway from Ohio, told the judge.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Burns is expected to be sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 10 years.

Burns' attorney, Special Public Defender Phil Kohn, said Burns' case is an example of why Nevada law needs to be revised regarding the prosecution of juveniles as adults on murder charges.

Kohn's office has been in the process of trying to challenge Nevada law, which dictates that a juvenile is automatically prosecuted as an adult when charged with murder. Kohn says the courts should at least hold a competency hearing when it comes to juvenile murder suspects to make sure they understand the court proceedings they face.

Kohn said in regard to Burns' case, the young woman was controlled by Kaczmarek, a man two decades her senior.

"She was 15 years old when she was brought out here, a victim of a kidnap and statutory sexual seduction, and she ends up with a life charge," Kohn said. "There was never any determination by a court as to whether she is competent to stand trial."

A jury convicted Kaczmarek of first-degree murder and sentenced the career criminal to death last month.

When asked for comment Tuesday, Clark County prosecutor Gary Guymon said: "Both of the suspects have now been successfully prosecuted."