One of two men charged with killing another man 25 years ago at a Salt Lake City dance event has pleaded guilty.
Hoomphanh Vanvilay, 44, and Vienphet Sundara, 47, were charged in January in 3rd District Court with first-degree felony murder for the 1991 stabbing death of 25-year-old Youthaloth Oudanonh.
Last week, Vanvilay — who was living in Roosevelt, Utah at the time of his arrest — pleaded guilty on Friday to a lesser count of second-degree felony manslaughter.
In his plea agreement document, Vanvilay admitted causing the victim's death "as a party to the offense."
Vanvilay agreed to testify against Sundara, and if he does, prosecutors will recommend jail rather than up to 15 years in prison, the plea document states.
A hearing to schedule a sentencing hearing was set for July 29.
A preliminary hearing for Sundara — whose address was listed in court documents as Oklahoma City, Okla. — is scheduled for May 23.
On May 19, 1991, Oudanonh was stabbed while attending a dance at 120 W. 1300 South, charges state.
An officer working security heard someone shout that a person had been stabbed. The officer went outside to see Oudanonh "stumble between two cars, bleeding heavily," charges state. The officer also heard someone say that the suspects, three Asian males, had fled west on 1300 South in a white car.
Oudanonh was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Soon after, police stopped a suspect car at the 900 South on-ramp to Interstate 15, and the dance security officer confirmed the three occupants had been at the dance.
Sundara had blood on his hands, face and clothing; Vanvilay had blood on his clothing, and a blood-covered knife was found in the car, charges state.
Oudanonh 's DNA was matched to the blood found on the two suspects' clothing and the blood on the knife, charges state.
Courtesy | Salt Lake County Sheriff Vienphet "Steve" Sundara.
