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Colorado Man Enters Plea, Avoids Trial In New Mexico Case

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - Prosecutors say a Colorado man set to go on trial for the 2010 killing of a homeless man over a drug deal gone bad has entered a plea.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that Arnold Hofeldt pleaded no contest Friday to an involuntary manslaughter charge along with four felony charges related to a riot last year at the Dona Ana County jail.

The district attorney's office says the 54-year-old Hofeldt was sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison. Of that, 2 ½ years was for the killing of Kermit Feazelle Jr.

Authorities believe a fight broke out when Hofeldt accused Feazelle of short-changing him in a $20 marijuana sale. Hofeldt was arrested months later in El Paso County, Colo.

In the other case, Hofeldt was among seven inmates charged in connection with the riot.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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