Morro Bay man dodges murder charge, pleads no contest to manslaughter for fatal stabbing
A week before he was to face trial for fatally stabbing a friend during an altercation at a self-storage facility, a Morro Bay man accepted a plea agreement with San Luis Obispo County prosecutors that will send him to prison for no more than seven years.
Sean Maneely was facing a count of murder as well as a sentencing enhancement for using a knife in the killing of 58-year-old Andrew McTaggart, also of Morro Bay.
If he was convicted of first-degree murder at trial, Maneely, 53, faced 25 years to life in prison.
But at a readiness conference Tuesday, Maneely accepted an offer by the county District Attorney’s Office and pleaded no contest to felony voluntary manslaughter, admitting the enhancement.
Maneely is now expected to be sentenced to six years in state prison for the manslaughter charge, according to the terms of his plea, but his defense attorney said both he and a prosecutor will have an opportunity to argue before Superior Court Judge Jesse Marino at sentencing whether to strike the one-year sentencing enhancement.
If Marino does not strike the enhancement, Maneely will likely face seven years in state prison, attorney Ilan Funke-Bilu said following the hearing Tuesday.
Asked for comment on the case, Funke-Bilu said the death of McTaggart was “an unfortunate incident involving two friends” that he thought both the defense and prosecution recognized was “a tragedy.”
“I wouldn’t say we’re happy with the results but given the risks on both sides (in a potential trial), I think sometimes it best serves everyone to come to a compromise,” Funke-Bilu said.
A spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday morning.
Morro Bay Police Chief Jody Cox previously told The Tribune that officers responded to the Morro Bay Self Storage building in the 1100 block of Allesandro Street at about 3:49 p.m. Jan. 25 for a reported stabbing.
Cox said several witnesses at the scene told officers that two men had been involved in a physical fight prior to the stabbing.
McTaggart, who was stabbed once in the upper left chest, was given emergency aid on scene and transported by ambulance to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, where he later died of his injuries.
Maneely was arrested at the scene.
The District Attorney’s Office filed a single charge of murder against Maneely on Jan 31, and he pleaded not guilty Feb. 6.
Asked about the circumstances that led up to McTaggart’s death, Funke-Bilu said his client was inside his storage unit playing music when he was approached by McTaggart and some sort of altercation ensued.
Funke-Bilu said he did not wish to speak ill of the deceased, but during his office’s investigation he discovered significant past incidents of violence by McTaggart, which he intended to present at trial.
He said Maneely has been remorseful about McTaggart’s killing since it occurred.
Maneely is scheduled to be sentenced July 30 in San Luis Obispo Superior Court. He’ll remain in San Luis Obispo County Jail custody without bail until then.
