By Associated Press - Tuesday, January 8, 2019

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A convicted felon has pleaded guilty in a Topeka beating death.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 32-year-old Howard Dale Burchfiel pleaded guilty Monday to reduced felony charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated burglary. He had faced charges that included first-degree murder.

Prosecutors say he beat 66-year-old Allen Wichman in June 2017 during a home invasion. Wichman died the following month from complication from his injuries.



Burchfiel has past convictions for crimes that include the 2009 shooting of a Topeka bartender, who survived. Burchfiel had been released on supervised probation just three months before attacking Wichman.

Burchfiel’s sentencing is scheduled for March 8.

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Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com

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