Former day-care worker takes second-degree murder plea

Alica Wegner, the former day care worker accused of killing a 14-month-old girl more than a decade ago, has entered a plea to second-degree murder.

As part of her plea, Wegner, 44, will be sentenced to either 10 years to life in prison or 10 to 25 years in prison, said her attorney Robert Langford.

"For her family's sake, she needed some closure," Langford said today. "The risk of going to trial and being convicted and then going through an appellate process would place too great a strain on her family."

Wegner was convicted in 1998 of killing Kierra Harrison and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years.

The Nevada Supreme Court overturned the conviction in 2000 and granted her a new trial. Justices objected to jury instructions stating that a killing by child abuse is first-degree murder, regardless of whether the killing was intentional.

They also ruled that the judge should have granted a defense request that jurors be permitted to consider the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Wegner, who is currently free on bail, has always maintained her innocence. She entered what's known as an Alford plea, which means she doesn't admit guilt but concedes that prosecutors could prove the case against her.

Since she already served three years in prison, she could be eligible for parole after seven years. Kierra's grandmother, Pamela Rowse, said today she was surprised Wegner took the plea.

"We're just glad she took it," she said. "We're now well on our way to finding a modicum of closure."

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.