A convicted sex offender pleaded guilty Wednesday to involuntary manslaughter and concealment of an accidental death in connection with the June 2007 disappearance of a 19-year-old Orange County woman.
John Steven Burgess -- who is scheduled to meet privately Thursday with the victim's family to discuss her death -- is due back in Los Angeles Superior Court on May 18 for sentencing. He is facing a five-year state prison term.
The plea was in connection with the disappearance of Donna Jou, who was an honors student at San Diego State University. Burgess was charged in March in the Jou case.
Jou and Burgess apparently met on the website Craigslist in late May or early June of 2007 and began exchanging e-mails, her parents said. Eventually, they agreed to meet in person.
Jou was last seen by her family as she rode away on the back of Burgess' motorcycle. She was later seen at a party at his rented, Palms-area home, authorities have said.
Authorities have not detailed how and where they believe the woman died, but the criminal complaint suggested Burgess injected Jou with a mixture of heroin and cocaine known as a speedball, and she died of an accidental overdose.
Burgess was convicted of battery in 2002 and, the following year, convicted of committing a lewd act on a child. He was sentenced to 146 days in jail, placed on three years probation and required to register as a sex offender.
Local
City News Service contributed to this report
