Man pleads guilty to helping Moberly murder suspect evade arrest

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -

The man accused of helping a Moberly murder suspect evade arrest pleaded guilty on Thursday.

Skyler Powell pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution of a felony in Monroe County court. Powell admitted to helping Alayna Mason after her brief escape from law enforcement in May while she was suspected of killing 16-year-old Kayla Huff.

The Randolph County Sheriff's Office claims Mason took a deputy's patrol vehicle while she was handcuffed in the front seat on May 7. Deputies said Mason went into an apartment where Powell was staying in the 500 block of South Clark Street, and that Powell allowed her to enter knowing she had gotten away with a patrol vehicle. The probable cause statement in Powell's case also said that Powell admitted to cutting the chain linking the handcuffs Mason was wearing.

Hindering prosecution of a felony carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison. Judge John Jackson will sentence Powell on Dec. 3.

Alayna Mason is one of five people accused of taking part in the alleged kidnapping and killing of Huff. Law enforcement suspects Mason of working with Christopher Woods-Bloss and Hunter Ames to assault and shoot Huff, then leave her body in the Rudolf Bennitt Conservation Area. Julian Mason and Christopher Hull are accused of helping hide some of the evidence in the killing.

Alayna Mason faces a separate case of tampering with a motor vehicle for allegedly taking the deputy's car.