Plea deal expected in killing of Spokane WWII veteran

One of the teenagers accused in the 2013 beating death of World War II veteran Delbert “Shorty” Belton is expected to take a plea bargain today.

Under terms of the deal, Kenan Adams-Kinard is to plead guilty to a murder charge in exchange for other charges being dropped, court officials said today. A plea is set for this afternoon in front of Superior Court Judge Sam Cozza, but a sentencing hearing has yet to be set.

Adams-Kinard and Demetruis Glenn, both now 17, are charged as adults in connection with the slaying, which drew international attention. The teenagers’ cases are being handled in the county’s juvenile court facilities.

Belton was found severely beaten and left for dead the evening of Aug. 21, 2013, in the parking lot of a Spokane ice rink, where he’d been waiting for a friend. He died the following day at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Investigators discovered both boys’ fingerprints on Belton’s car.

Adams-Kinard and Glenn have been in custody since their separate arrests a few days after the homicide. Glenn turned himself in to authorities after surveillance video surfaced of the two teens entering nearby businesses around the time of the alleged beating. Adams-Kinard was apprehended in a basement apartment a few days later, where authorities found a letter they tied to the teen that claimed the beating took place after the elderly World War II veteran stiffed Adams-Kinard on a crack cocaine deal.

The drug claims have been dismissed as preposterous by authorities as well as Belton’s family and friends.

Kinard’s trial was scheduled to start next week. The status of Glenn’s case was unclear Monday afternoon.