Devin Petersen pleads guilty

PALMER — Devin Peterson, the only of the five teens charged in the death of fellow teen David Grunwald not to be charged with murder, changed his plea to guilty for his role in the late Nov. 2016 slaying.

In a Palmer courtroom on Friday, Peterson pleaded guilty to evidence tampering and hindering prosecution. More specifically, Peterson admitted guilt to hiding the guns used to beat and then kill Grunwald. He also admitted to providing two cans of gasoline to 16-year-old Erick Almandinger — the only of the five being tried separately in the Grunwald case — so that he could burn Grunwald’s vehicle, miles from the point where authorities ultimately found the Palmer youth’s body.

Peterson was also facing federal child pornography charges, which came about after police searched Almandinger’s cell phone during the investigation. The plea deal with the state resulted in those charges being dropped.

Peterson is due back in court on April 30 for sentencing.