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Charlottesville murder case from 2023 comes to a close with guilty plea

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The suspect in the February 2023 murder of Nicklous Pendleton in the Hardy Drive apartment complex in Charlottesville pled guilty Monday to the crime.

According to the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Rayma’qua Antonio Nicholas pled guilty in Charlottesville Circuit Court to the Feb. 22, 2023, murder.

Nicholas also pled guilty to use of a firearm during the commission of murder.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13 at 1 p.m. and faces up to 43 years in prison.

“As our community continues to grapple with gun violence, we are once again reminded of the devastating impact of the loss of an innocent life,” said Joe Platania, Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Nina-Alice Antony prosecuted the case.

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.