A suspected gang member who spent six years on the run entered a guilty plea to a Hall County murder and will now spend the rest of his life in prison.
Court documents show Brian Martin Rivera-Villa, 22, entered the plea in Hall County Superior Court on Wednesday and was immediately sentenced by Judge Jason Deal to a life prison sentence. There is the possibility for parole under the plea arrangement, but court papers indicate Rivera-Villa waived his right to appeal.
Rivera-Villa was tracked down in Mexico by U.S. Marshals, and was returned to Hall County in May to face charges in the death of 67-year-old Ramon Hernandez. A co-worker found Hernandez dead in March 2010 at East Ridge Mobile Home Park.
Two other men, Daniel Vilchis-Avala and Nelson Vaca, also are serving time for the murder. Investigators said all three were teens at the time of the crime; all were believed to be members of the SUR 13 street gang.
