The man accused of killing a Des Moines police officer has pleaded guilty in Seattle to first-degree murder in a plea bargain to avoid a possible death penalty.
Video: Family Of Officer Angered By Plea Deal
Charles Champion, 22, will be sentenced Jan. 5 in King County Superior Court.
Champion initially was charged with aggravated murder in theMarch 2001 shooting that took the life of Officer Steven Underwood. He was killed after he radioed he was stopping Champion and three others on Pacific Highway South.
The trial had been frequently delayed because of changing defense lawyers and motions against the death penalty.
Champion's lawyers said it would be unfair for him to face execution when Gary Ridgway got a plea deal sparing his life for the Green River killings.
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