Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced that 23-year-old Christopher DiMeo of Richmond Hill pled guilty to murder - 1st degree, a Class A felony, and robbery - 1st degree, a Class B violent felony. His mother, Maryann Taylor, 41, of Hicksville, pled guilty to robbery - 1st degree, a Class B violent felony. Both pleas were made before Nassau County Court Judge Victor Ort.

In April 2005, a grand jury indicted DiMeo; his girlfriend, Nicole Pearce, 23; and Taylor in connection with the Dec. 21, 2004 robbery and murder of Thomas Renison at J&J Jewelers in Glen Head.

"On December 21, 2004 at approximately 4:30 p.m., DiMeo entered J&J Jewelers in Glen Head pretending to be shopping for an engagement ring. A short time later, DiMeo produced a hand gun and demanded money and took a variety of jewelry," said Dillon. "At the time of the robbery, DiMeo shot and killed Thomas Renison, 48, of Glen Cove. Both Taylor and Pearce had visited J&J Jewelers earlier and provided DiMeo a detailed description of the store in order to facilitate the robbery. Taylor also drove the get-away car from the store."

DiMeo is due to be sentenced on July 28 and faces life in prison without any possibility of parole. He still could face the death penalty in Connecticut on charges he killed two people during another jewelry store robbery in Fairfield. The state's attorney's office will either bring DiMeo to trial or offer him a plea deal, but has not yet commented on whether it will seek the death penalty in the case. If it doesn't and DiMeo is given a Connecticut prison sentence, he will be returned to New York to serve his time, but if DiMeo is sentenced to death in Connecticut, he will be imprisoned there pending his execution.

Taylor will be sentenced on Aug. 10 and faces a 15-year determinate sentence. Pearce is currently awaiting trial and has been charged with murder - 2nd degree, a Class A felony and two counts of robbery - 1st degree, a Class B violent felony.

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.