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SALT LAKE CITY — Frank Puga Benavidez, who was the getaway driver in a gang-related shooting that resulted in the death of a 7-year-old Maria Menchaca, pleaded guilty to murder, a first-degree felony, Friday.

Benavidez, 22, originally was charged with aggravated murder and obstruction of justice, both first-degree felonies. As a result of a plea bargain, the obstruction charge was dismissed and the other charge amended.

Benavidez faces a potential prison term of 16 years to life when he is sentenced on March 19, 2010.

Benavidez acknowledged in court Friday that he was present during the planning of a drive-by shooting on July 6, 2008, with co-defendants Gabriel Alejandro Alvarez and Mae Goodman Johnson.

The trio had gotten into an argument with Luis Menchaca, one of the child’s adult male relatives, earlier in the day. After planning their revenge, Johnson supplied the gun, Benavidez drove all three back to the area where the Menchaca family lived, Alvarez did the actual shooting — hitting Maria by mistake — and Benavidez drove them away, according to court records.

Third District Judge Deno Himonas questioned Benavidez at length via a Spanish-speaking interpreter about whether Benavidez was willing and knowingly giving up various rights by entering into the plea agreement.

“How do you plead?” Himonas asked at last.

“Guilty,” Benavidez replied in English.

Alvarez, who was 16 when he shot the child but now is 18, previously pleaded guilty to murder, a first-degree felony, and was sentenced to 16-years to life in prison.

Goodman, now 17, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a second-degree felony. Her next court appearance is a scheduling conference Jan. 8, 2010.

e-mail: lindat@desnews.com