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William Bentley died in March after being punched outside Wilkes-Barre supermarket during a confrontation.
WILKES-BARRE – A Nanticoke man scheduled to stand trial next month on involuntary manslaughter charges pleaded guilty Friday to causing the death of a Wilkes-Barre man by punching him in the head.
Zireek Gardner, 18, of East Main Street, pleaded guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment of another person, two counts of simple assault and unrelated possession with intent to deliver charges before Luzerne County Court Judge Thomas Burke.
Gardner will be sentenced on Nov. 17, when he will face a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Assistant District Attorney Michael Vough said Friday that Gardner and William Bentley got into a fight on March 26 outside Schiel’s Family Market on Hanover Street in Wilkes-Barre.
Gardner punched Bentley in the back of the head. Bentley never regained consciousness, and he died the next day after doctors said he was brain-dead.
Police said the fight was the end result of an earlier incident in which Gardner, also known as “Zock,” claimed he was robbed of drugs and money.
The two met by chance outside the grocery store later that day, Vough said.
“Is that correct?” Burke asked Gardner.
“Yes, your honor,” Gardner replied.
Gardner was scheduled to stand trial on Oct. 5 after he pleaded not guilty to the charges at an arraignment in recent months.
Bentley’s girlfriend, Stacey Kammer, testified at the preliminary hearing that she was with Bentley and a friend when they stopped at the store to buy food.
“I heard (Bentley) say ‘I’m sorry’ to Mr. Gardner. I got out of the car to defend (Bentley). That’s when Mr. Gardner punched (Bentley) in the head,” Kammer testified.
Kammer said she had been dating Bentley for nearly a year. County Coroner John Corcoran said Bentley died from blunt head trauma caused by a fist.
Gardner, who is currently jailed at the county prison, also pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to deliver heroin Friday. That charge stems from an Oct. 10 incident in Nanticoke.
Police said Gardner and a few other men were pushing a disabled car in Nanticoke. Vough said a small bag of heroin was found at Gardner’s feet, and when police approached, they found four more bags in his hand.
Gardner will be required to pay restitution to Bentley’s family as well as prosecution costs when he is sentenced.