SEATTLE - A man accused of shooting and killing a suspected car prowler whom he believed had taken a subwoofer from his car has pleaded guilty.

Douglas C. Sheets, 20, appeared Friday in King County Superior Court to face a charge of second-degree manslaughter in the death of Jhovany Hernandez.

Prosecutors said Sheets pleaded guilty to the charge in exchange for a recommended sentence of 9 months work release - an exceptionally reduced term for the crime. The actual sentencing will take place Oct. 30.

Sheets showed little visible emotion during the hearing.

Hernandez, then 21, was shot and killed outside an apartment complex in the 9700 block of Fifth Avenue NE in the city's Northgate area almost exactly a year ago.

According to the statement of probable cause, Sheets was inside his first-floor apartment, which sits directly above his car port, on Sept. 24, 2008, when he heard what sounded like someone breaking into his car just before 7 p.m.

Sheets said he stepped out onto his balcony and saw men breaking into his car, a 2001 Toyota Camry. He then retreated into his apartment and grabbed his Russian-made Mosin-Nagant M44 rifle, he told police.

The suspected car prowlers spotted Sheets and his firearm, the statement said. Three of them took off in the car, turned a corner and waited for two others to catch up.

Sheets told detectives one of the two was carrying a 27-pound subwoofer he had taken from his car.

Sheets ordered the men to the ground, but they did not comply and one reached toward his waistband.

Sheet said he then pointed his rifle and fired while standing some 60 to 70 feet away from the victim, who was facing away.

The bullet went through the victim's head, police said.

The surviving car prowler hopped into the waiting getaway car and fled, according to the document.

Sheets yelled for someone to call 911. When officers arrived, they searched the victim's clothing, as well the street and the area surrounding the apartment building, but did not find a gun.

Sheets told investigators he did not mean to kill the victim, but when he saw the victim reach for his waist band, "he wasn't going to take any chances," court documents said.

Prosecutors said Sheets' manslaughter charge is based on negligence for using more force than the law allows to recover property.