Local news outlets report Clinton Inabnitt entered the plea Monday to charges of murder and wanton endangerment in the death of Somerset attorney Mark Stanziano.
The move came a week before he was scheduled to stand trial. Previous testimony has indicted that Inabnitt was schizophrenic and delusional.
Prosecutor Eddy Montgomery said he's recommending a 20-year prison sentence on the murder charge followed by three years of probation on the wanton endangerment count. Montgomery said Stanziano's wife and daughter were "heavily involved" in the decision.
Stanziano was known for defending people accused in high-profile cases including a triple slaying at a pawn shop and the fatal shooting of a sheriff.