MUSCATINE, Iowa — One of eight alleged members of the Latin Kings street gang accused of an September 2008 assault in a Muscatine alley has pleaded guilty.

Robert Murillo Jr., 18, entered the plea Dec. 30, 2008, on charges of willful injury, criminal gang participation and assault causing injury. The willful injury charge was reduced from a Class C to a Class D felony in an agreement he reached with prosecutors.

Murillo and seven other men are accused of assaulting a man Sept. 21 in an alley next to Circle K gas station, 800 Cypress St. According to court documents, the men stated during the assault that the area was “King hood.”

The man suffered a fractured nose, loss of sight in one eye and loss of hearing in one ear. A woman who allegedly attempted to break up the fight sustained a bump when she was struck on the head.

Salazar and Guevara confronted the victims and three other individuals earlier on the day of the attack, according to court documents. The male victim and Guevara fought, and Guevara said he would return.

He allegedly came back later with Salazar and the six others. Surveillance video from Circle K shows all were present near the time of the alleged assault, court documents say.

A sentencing hearing for Murillo is scheduled for Feb. 6. Prosecutors will recommend suspended five-year prison sentences for willful injury and criminal gang participation, a Class D felony, and to serve 185 days of a 365-day jail sentence with credit for time-served and pay a fine for assault causing injury, a misdemeanor.

Three others have also been arrested in the assault. A pretrial conference is scheduled Friday, Feb. 6, for Brian Guevara, 27, Sergio Gonzalez Sanchez Jr., 24, and Martin Cerda, 26, who remain in jail on charges of willful injury, criminal gang participation and assault causing injury. A judge ruled last week to deny their attorneys requests to sever the cases and to change venues due to pretrial publicity.

A fifth defendant, Oscar Paredes, 19, and three other men still at large face identical charges.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Joey Salazar, 21, Miguel Angel Zamora, 23, and Steven Sterner, 18, should contact the Muscatine Police Department at 563-263-9922.

Reporter contact information Jennifer Meyer: 563-262-0525 jennifer.meyer@muscatinejournal.com