Richard Rotter is charged with first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture or distribute.
In court today, his attorney said he intends to plead guilty to all three counts. A guilty plea this early in the process is unusual, but not unheard of. In all, the court hearing lasted a little over five minutes.
Rotter has a long criminal history, and will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
Officer Dan Rocha of the Everett Police Department was killed in a Starbucks parking lot on March 25th. Investigators say he was responding to a report of a suspicious person when he and Rotter got into an altercation and Rotter shot him twice in the head. Court documents also indicate Rotter drover over Rocha’s body as he fled the scene.
Rotter is expected to formally enter a plea when he is arraigned on April 25.
