Perkins enters plea in murder case

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A 23-year-old Red Wing man agreed to spend a year in Goodhue County jail for his ancillary role in the shooting death of Luis Orlando Galicia Mijangos.

Joseph Ramone Perkins pleaded guilty Monday to aiding an offender, a charge that carried a maximum of penalty of three years and $5,000.

He was accused of driving convicted murderer Marvin Todd Griffith Jr. to different residences after Griffith shot Mijangos in January.

Assistant Goodhue County Attorney Christopher Schrader said Perkins testified Monday that he initially had no knowledge Griffith had just gunned downed Mijangos.

But as they drove, Schrader said Perkins pieced together Griffith's role in the homicide — which prosecutors say substantiated the charge.

Monday's hearing marked the seventh conviction in the case. Griffith was sentenced last month to 30 years in prison after admitting to the shooting.

"At least so far, they're all accepting responsibility," Schrader said of the co-defendants.

Perkins missed a court hearing this month and was later arrested. When jailers searched his clothing, trace amounts of methamphetamines were discovered, leading to additional charges.

He pleaded guilty Monday to fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance. He will serve a simultaneous one-year sentence for that charge.

The only suspect whose case hasn't reached resolution is Janae Vonch. The 20-year-old Red Wing woman is accused of driving an accomplice to St. Paul to dispose of the murder weapon.

Vonch's next court date is Nov. 7.

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