Teen pleads guilty to murder charge in 2022 killing at Black Bob Park in Olathe
A teen charged in the killing of 19-year-old Marco Cardino during a botched 2022 robbery at Black Bob Park in Olathe pleaded guilty to a murder charge in an uncommon Saturday hearing.
Jacobi Epting, who is now 16, pleaded guilty to counts of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and attempted aggravated robbery in Johnson County District Court.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 27.
James Spies, an attorney for Epting, declined to comment Monday.
Epting, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, was among a group of teens charged in the killing of Cardino. Authorities have said the group of teens arranged a marijuana deal and planned to take Cardino’s money.
In court documents, prosecutors said Epting instructed other youths on their roles in the plan to rob Cardino, brought a gun to the park and wore a mask to disguise himself. They said he showed the gun to Cardino, killed him and also fired the gun toward another person.
Epting is the last defendant connected to the shooting with a pending case, according to the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office.
Two other youths, who are both now 16, pleaded guilty to counts of second-degree murder last year and were sentenced to serve time at a juvenile correctional facility until they reached the age of 22 and a half years. Both were sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in prison if they failed to comply with the juvenile sentence, according to the district attorney’s office.
