Man pleads guilty to 2nd degree murder in death of Sedro-Woolley market owner

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — A 20-year-old Mount Vernon man charged with driving the SUV that fatally struck the co-owner of a Sedro-Woolley market has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

The Skagit Valley Herald reports that prosecutors reduced the charge against Matthew John Tobin from first- to second-degree murder in exchange for Thursday's guilty plea in Skagit County Superior Court.

Prosecutors say Tobin hit Yongmin Pak last year after she ran after a vehicle while trying to stop a shoplifter who took two cases of beer from James Market. She died from her injuries.

Pak was the co-owner of James Market on West State Street.

Prosecutors are asking for a 15-year prison sentence.