William Perry of North Canton pleaded guilty in Stark County Common Pleas Court to aggravated murder yesterday in a plea agreement that will spare him the death penalty.
Perry was accused in the death of 34-year-old Brett Smith, who was found decapitated last October. Authorities said Smith died of asphyxiation.
Perry initially was arrested on a charge accusing him of damaging the electric meter on Smith's property. Smith also had filed a police complaint alleging that Perry hit him in the face.
The plea deal calls for Perry, 41, to get a life sentence and waive all of his appeals.
