Ariel Castro Pleads Guilty to Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus & Michele Knight Kidnapping [VIDEO]
Former Ohio school bus driver Ariel Castro pleaded guilty on Friday in a deal with prosecutors that could help him avoid the death penalty for charges that he abducted three women in Cleveland.
The deal called for life in prison plus 1,000 years without the chance for parole, but the judge in the case said he will hand down the final sentence on a later date, according to USA Today. Castro appeared in court to face 937 criminal counts, including kidnapping, rape and aggravated murder. By accepting the plea deal, the three victims -- Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight -- will not have to testify in court.
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In court of Friday, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Michael Russo asked Castro if he had read the plea deal over with his lawyers, understood its contents and consented to its terms of agreement.
"I am fully aware," the 53-year-old, who celebrated his birthday earlier this month, replied.
When asked if he knew that the plea deal means there will be no trial, Castro answered, "I am aware of it." He also said that he told his lawyers when he was arrested that he would fully cooperate with the FBI and "tell them everything."
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When asked if he understood he would never be released from prison, Castro said: "I do understand that, your honor. I knew I was pretty much going to get the book thrown at me."
Castro's charges include two counts of aggravated murder related to claims that he physically abused and starved one of his victims until she miscarried. The three women disappeared separately between 2002 and 2004, when they were 14, 16 and 20 years old. Each admitted that they had accepted a ride from Castro, who knew their families. They escaped captivity on May 6 when Berry kicked out a door of Castro's home and called to neighbors for help. Castro was arrested within hours and has remained behind bars since then. Also rescued was Berry's daughter Jocelyn, whom Castro fathered and Berry gave birth to while in captivity.
