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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Review: Nothing sweet about 'Sweat' story of disappearing middle class ... Firefighters on high alert for new lightning-caused blazes ... Mocha Musings: Have someone you can talk to? You're lucky ... Review: Nothing sweet about 'Sweat' story of disappearing middle class ... Firefighters on high alert for new lightning-caused blazes ... Mocha Musings: Have someone you can talk to? You're lucky ... CRIME Second man pleads guilty in Ashland murder Comment By Mark Freeman For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Posted Jun. 1, 2015 at 6:43 PM By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Posted Jun. 1, 2015 at 6:43 PM » Social News The second of two men admitted today in court  to taking part in the murder of an Ashland man during a botched robbery attempt in 2013, with each now fingering the other as the killer. Merlin Elmo Bound III pleaded guilty to charges of murder, first-degree burglary and first-degree robbery in the October 2013 slaying of Frank Ronald Damiano, a former jewelry salesman who was active in Ashland's gay community. Bound faces a mandatory minimum 25 years in prison when Jackson County Circuit Judge Lorenzo Mejia sentences him in a hearing scheduled for June 11. Former roommates Bound and Othon Robert Campos Jr. bound the 62-year-old Damiano in his home before he was fatally stabbed and the pair fled with his jewelry. Appearing from the Jackson County Jail via teleconference, the 45-year-old Bound told Mejia that he "participated in a heinous crime" but that Damiano's death was "not by my hands." Campos, 44, pleaded guilty Sept. 30, 2014, to identical charges that Bound pleaded to today. He was sentenced to the mandatory 25-year minimum and agreed to testify against Bound after first fingering Bound as the killer. During Campos' sentencing, friends said in court that Damiano was a colorful character active in the town’s gay community and choral groups and was known for his collection of teddy bears. Jackson County District Attorney Beth Heckert also said in court at that time that Campos had known Damiano and had been to his home before the murder. Investigators believe that Campos had made previous arrangements to come over to Damiano's home that day and had persuaded Bound to help him rob the man of his jewelry, Heckert said in court. An Ashland police officer discovered Damiano’s body 11 days after the murder while conducting a welfare check. Police arrested Bound five days later, but Campos fled to Vancouver, Wash., where he was eventually arrested by deputy U.S. marshals and where investigators recovered some of Damiano's stolen property. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman . By Mark Freeman For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Posted Jun. 1, 2015 at 6:43 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501