Action News Jax has learned the prime suspect in the death of Lonzie Barton will enter a plea in court on Friday morning.
Sources tell us that Ebron could enter a guilty plea on Friday.
Ruben Ebron is scheduled to appear before a judge at 8:30 a.m. When he does, the judge may decide whether to accept or reject a plea agreement that would send Ebron to jail for more than 20 years.
Our sources say the defense and the State Attorney's Office have been working on a deal that would involve the Jacksonville man pleading guilty to manslaughter and facing decades in prison -- instead of life.
"He may plead entirely out here," said Action News Jax Law and Safety Expert Dale Carson. "And this is where previously as you'll recall, there was a 20 year sentence in exchange for him pleading to aggravated manslaughter."
Action News Jax first told you about a possible plea just hours after remains were found on the Southside believed to be that of Lonzie. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office told us Ebron led officers to this location himself.
That break in the case came six months after Lonzie disappeared and just days after the child's mother, Lonna Lauramore Barton, agreed to testify against Ruben Ebron. She did so as part of a plea deal on the child neglect charges against her.
Lauramore Barton is now in the Baker County jail facing drug charges there.
Action News Jax's Catherine Varnum reached out to William Ruben Ebron Sr., Ebron's father, via text for an interview and he sent her the following reply: "No thank you Catherine. We just want this over with."
We will be in the courtroom Friday and will bring you the latest on a possible plea the moment it happens online and on our mobile app.