A fifth suspect has now pleaded guilty in the University of Rochester kidnapping case.
Dennis Perez agreed to plead guilty on two counts of second degree kidnapping for his part in abducting and holding the two U of R seniors against their will last December. He faces 35 years in prison at sentencing on November 23rd.
Defense Attorney Peter Pullano says taking the plea deal made sense.
Perez along with Samantha Hughes, Leah Gigliotti, Elliot Rivera and Jesus Castro-Ubiles, agreed to plead guilty for reduced sentences. The remaining four defendants go on trial together on October 31st.
Assistant District Attorney Matt Schwartz says it will be a complex trial, but he doesn’t forsee any problems.
The two U of R seniors were lured off campus to what they thought would be a house party. Instead, they were robbed, beaten and held captive until rescued by a police SWAT team.