Jimenez-Olivera is a citizen of Mexico and is in this country illegally, he said when asked by the judge. The judge told him he could be deported.
A township man who was indicted on charges of murdering a female co-worker and setting her body and home on fire, pleaded guilty on Wednesday before Somerset County Superior Court Judge Julie M. Marino.
Juan Jimenez-Olivera, 30, pleaded guilty to murder, aggravated arson, desecrating human remains, theft, hindering apprehension and tampering with evidence in the death of Syiatlana Dranko on April 29, 2014.
Under a plea deal, assistant prosecutor Frank Kolodzieski dismissed the charge of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and Jimenez-Olivera would serve a 30-year sentence without the possibility of parole on the murder charge.
Kolodzieski will allow Jimenez-Olivera to serve his sentences on the aggravated arson, theft, hindering apprehension and tampering with evidence charges concurrently.
Jimenez-Olivera, however, is facing an additional five years on the desecration of human remains charge.
If Jimenez-Olivera, who is represented by public defender Lauren Bayer, had been found guilty on all counts, he was facing a maximum of 126.5 years in prison. His $1 million bail was revoked and he remains in the Somerset County Jail.
Jimenez-Olivera’s sentencing date is Sept. 18.
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