Fate of Accomplice to Temecula Murder Uncertain

The future was uncertain today of a man who admitted to assisting in a murder in Old Town.

Temecula resident Dale Dante Thomas pleaded guilty in March at the to voluntary manslaughter with a firearm related to gang activity, robbery and attempted murder.

The plea was part of a deal that would have him testify against his accomplice, Marcus Fletcher, in the murder of Rafi Ibrahim, a 34-year-old Temecula liquor store clerk, and Kedran Howard, a 23-year-old San Diego resident.

To read more about the crimes, .

Thomas testified against his accomplice in June, but when the jury rendered its verdict in July, Thomas' plea deal hit a snag.

His cohort was convicted of murdering Ibrahim and shooting at another customer in a 2005 liquor store robbery at, but a mistrial was declared on a charge of murder stemming from an unrelated killing in San Diego.

To read about Thomas' testimony against his former friend, . To read about the verdict that snagged the plea deal, .

If Fletcher were found guilty of all three counts, both men would be sentenced. Since the jury was hung on one charge, sentencing Thomas is impossible, because the District Attorney's office in San Diego may choose to also try the men for Howard's death, said Sam Kaloustian, a prosecutor with the Riverside County District Attorney's office.

This means the Superior Court of Riverside County may have to wait to sentence Thomas until the San Diego courts make their decision, Kaloustian said.

The first step in deciding Thomas' sentence is deciding whether his testimony was honest, Kaloustian said. "The DA must decide whether his testimony was truthful."

Thomas will be held in the Southwest Detention Center until a verdict is given on the San Diego trial. Thomas was scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 2. Fletcher was scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow.