( Clermont County ) - As expected, the young man charged with aggravated murder and more in the standoff in February that killed Deputy Bill Brewer has pleaded guilty.
23-Year-Old Wade Edward Winn changed his plea to guilty on Monday. It means he avoids trial and the possible death penalty that could've come with it if he were convicted.
After asking a thorough series of questions to the defendant about his mental state and more, Judge Anthony Brock accepted Winn's guilty plea to both aggravated murder and multiple counts of attempted aggravated murder. "The callousness of the defendant's conduct, the lack of respect for the sanctity of life--not just the lives of the police officers involved, but the lives of other innocent bystanders in the area--and the targeting of seven law enforcement officers who responded to help Mr Winn, make each of these offenses more serious and constitute the worst form of the offenses," Judge Brock said.
Neither Winn nor any of the victims or their families made any statements prior to sentencing.
Judge Brock sentenced Winn to life without the possibility of parole plus 115 years in prison, terms to be served consecutively.
Winn initially reported a robbery at his Pierce Twp apartment, then called 911 to fake suicide, before he opened fire on officers dispatched to the scene.