Breaking News: McElrath Pleads Guilty
Lassen County District Attorney Robert Burns has announced that at 1:30p.m. Friday, in Lassen Superior Court, an emotional Joanne McElrath pleaded guilty to the premeditated and deliberate first degree murder of her husband, off-duty Susanville Police Officer Robert McElrath on January 2nd, 2011.
“In addition to the plea,” explained Burns, “defendant McElrath agreed to give up her right to challenge the conviction now or anytime in the future by waiving her right to appeal.”
Lastly, although defendant is entitled by law to credit against her sentence for the time she has been in custody since her arrest on January 6th, 2011, more than three years, she has agreed that the judge, in his discretion alone, may grant all, some, or none of those credits before she begins her term.
Sentencing in the case is scheduled for 1:30p.m. on May 23rd and according to District Attorney Burns the legal consequence of this plea is a sentence to the California Department of Corrections for a term of twenty five years to life.
