AP Photo/ UT San Diego, K.C. AlfredUPDATE (May 16, 2014): Lambesis was sentenced to six years in prison, minus 48 days of credit for time served. Bandmates Nick Hipa, Phil Sgrosso and Josh Gilbert attended the sentencing hearing.
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Tim Lambesis is facing the music.
The frontman for the metalcore band As I Lay Dying pleaded guilty Tuesday in Vista Superior Court to solicitation of murder after attempting to put a hit out on his estranged wife, according to San Diego, Calif.'s ABC 10 News.
Lambesis' wife, Meggan, had reportedly filed for divorce in September 2012. He was arrested last May, accused of hiring a man—who turned out to be an undercover sheriff's deputy—to kill Meggan, with whom he had also adopted three children over the years. Authorities said that Lambesis gave the cop $1,000 and instructions on how to track down his wife.
Lambesis initially entered a not guilty plea following his arrest. He was released on $2 million bail at the time and was required to wear a GPS tracking device.
Defense attorney Thomas Warwick reportedly said in court at the time that his client, who was heavily into bodybuilding, was on steroids when he approached the deputy about killing Meggan, saying Lambesis' "thought processes were devastatingly affected."
Lambesis, whose biggest commercial hit with As I Lay Dying was 2007's An Ocean Between Us, is now facing a maximum of nine years in prison and a $10,000 fine. His sentencing hearing has been set for May 2, per Billboard.com.
His bandmates said in a statement last year following Lambesis' arrest: "There are many unanswered questions, and the situation will become clearer in the coming days and weeks. We'll keep you informed as best we can. Our thoughts right now are with Tim, his family, and with everyone else affected by this terrible situation—and with our fans, whom we love and draw strength from."
(Originally published Feb. 25, 2014, at 5:20 p.m. PT)