Man Pleads Guilty in Golden Gate Park Attack on Homeless

SAN FRANCISCO - A man arrested last year in connection with an attack on a homeless man who was beaten and murdered in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park has pleaded guilty to an elder abuse charge, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Robert Tannehill, 36, entered the guilty plea last Thursday in connection with an attack on 66-year-old Stephen Williams.

Tannehill was one of six people arrested after Williams' body was found lying face down in Golden Gate Park's Alvord Lake by a gardener on May 24.

Five other defendants face felony charges including murder, torture, conspiracy, elder abuse, kidnapping and assault in connection with Williams' death.

Prosecutors allege Williams was beaten and tortured over a period of several days before he was knocked unconscious and dumped into the lake.

The case for the other defendants is still pending, with the next court appearance scheduled for March 8.

Tannehill was never charged with murder, but was originally charged with felonies including assault and elder abuse. His case was severed from the others and as a result has moved more rapidly through the court system.

He is expected to be sentenced at his next scheduled court appearance on Feb. 27.

- Bay City News / Image of Alvord Lake Bridge via Wikimapia