Teen may face more than 20 years in prison for killing White Center man

A 16-year-old boy who killed a White Center man after he caught the boy and two other teens burglarizing his home last fall may face more than 20 years in prison when he is sentenced in June.

Jonathan Newman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Wednesday, two days after his criminal case was moved out of juvenile court and into King County Superior Court. Newman, who was 15 at the time of the slaying, was originally charged with first-degree murder in juvenile court, but he agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder in adult court.

Defense attorney Christopher Carney said the plea was a tough decision for Newman.

"He's very young and he's looking at a lot of time [in prison]," Carney said after Wednesday's hearing. "He wanted to take responsibility for this. He's not a monster."

Deputy Prosecutor Amy Montgomery said she plans to ask Superior Court Judge Deborah Fleck to sentence Newman to nearly 23 years in prison.

On Oct. 19, Newman and two other teens broke into Craig Hoffman's house after the 46-year-old contractor left to take his daughter to school, according to prosecutors. Newman entered the house through an open garage and then let the two other boys in through the front door, charging papers say.

Hoffman returned a short time later and the boys raced out of the house with stolen items in hand, court documents said.

Montgomery said Newman shot Hoffman as the homeowner was chasing the teens off his property.

The two other teens have pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary with a firearm in juvenile court and had agreed to testify against Newman. Montgomery said she will seek a sentence of three years in detention for each when they are sentenced later this year.

Hoffman's family who attended Wednesday's hearing said they were happy the plea will spare them from having to attend an emotional trial.

"He admitted what he did was wrong. That part is very comforting," said Andrea Mathison, Hoffman's sister.

Mathison and Linda Hoffman, the slain man's stepmother, said they felt sorry for Newman's family. But, Linda Hoffman said, when the youth armed himself with a 9 mm handgun that morning he was no longer acting like a child.

"When he picked up that gun that morning that's a very adult thing to do," she said.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com