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Man Chafee shielded from death penalty plans guilty plea - Projo 7 ...

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A day after Governor Chafee, citing a possible federal death penalty, refused to hand murder suspect Jason W. Pleau over to U.S. authorities, Chafee's office on Friday released a letter from the public defender stating that Pleau wants to plead guilty in return for a sentence of life with no parole.

John J. Hardiman, public defender, notified assistant state Attorney General Randall White of the development on May 17, according to a copy of Hardiman's letter supplied by the governor's office.

On Thursday Chafee rejected the U.S. Government's request for temporary federal custody of Pleau , who is charged with murder in the case of a Woonsocket gas station owner killed on the steps of a bank.

Extra: Read the letter in .pdf format.

Watch Chafee discuss his position on the death penalty in a TV debate.

Hardiman's brief letter to White says in part that Pleau "has authorized me to tell you that it is his desire to plea to the allegations in State court and he is willing to take a life without parole sentence."

Here is the statement from the governor's office:

"Mr. Pleau is incarcerated in the Adult Correctional Institute (ACI) and currently stands untried for the September 20, 2010 robbery and murder of David D. Main. A transfer of Mr. Pleau to temporary federal custody would potentially expose him to the death penalty, a penalty consciously rejected by the State of Rhode Island, even for those guilty of the most heinous crimes.

" 'My disapproval of the federal government's request should in no way minimize the tragic and senseless nature of Mr. Main's murder,' Governor Chafee said. 'The person or persons responsible for this horrific act must, and will, be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law. I extend my deepest sympathy to Mr. Main's family for their unspeakable loss.'

" 'Despite the horrific nature of this crime, however, the State of Rhode Island would not impose the death penalty,' Governor Chafee continued. 'In light of this longstanding policy, I cannot in good conscience voluntarily expose a Rhode Island citizen to a potential death penalty prosecution. I am confident that Attorney General Kilmartin and Rhode Island's criminal justice system are capable of ensuring that justice is served in this matter.' "

The Associated Press reported that a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Rhode Island says prosecutors plan to move forward with the case, and that a lawyer for Pleau praised the governor's decision.

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