WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Man pleads guilty to in-law's 2007 slaying
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Michael Christmas
Associated Press - November 6, 2009 4:45 PM ET
BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A man who fatally shot his brother-in-law in front of the victim's children says he's guilty.
Michael Christmas, 42, of Shaftsbury, pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder and three counts of sexual assault on a child under 10 under a plea agreement that calls for a prison term of 30 years to life.
He was originally charged with first-degree murder in the 2007 slaying of 36-year-old Ronald Wilkins of North Bennington, who was shot five times as his children - ages 9, 12 and 14 - looked on. Prosecutors say the two had a long-running feud that climaxed when Christmas rode up on a bicycle and encountered Wilkins sitting on a porch before shooting him.
No sentencing date has been set.
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