By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - A Richland man pleaded guilty Monday to all six counts pending against him for the methamphetamine-related Marcellus Township murder of a Van Buren County man.
Travis Schmid, 23, formerly of 9111 N. 27th St., Richland, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with an understanding that he would serve a 34- to 50-year prison sentence.
Second-degree murder is punishable by life or any term of years.
Schmid admitted shooting Joshua Alton McCreary, 25, of Bloomingdale, five times with a .25-caliber handgun, as well as manufacturing methamphetamine with David Richards and Bobby Richards. The crimes took place on the Randall Reeves property, 10872 Cranberry Lake St., Marcellus Township.
McCreary's skeletal remains were discovered Mach 4.
Charges to which Schmid pleaded guilty also include: count II, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine (20 years); count III, possession of a firearm by a felon (five years maximum); count IV, felony firearm (two-year consecutive); count V, felony firearm (two-year consecutive); count VI, felony firearm (two-year consecutive); and habitual, fourth.
Co-defendant Bobby Richards awaits trial Nov. 8 on similar counts.