Portland man pleads guilty in woman’s death

PORTLAND – A 28-year-old Portland man has pleaded guilty to the murder of his live-in girlfriend a year ago.

Joel Olavarria entered his plea Friday in Cumberland County Superior Court, just days before his trial was to begin. He is to begin serving his 25-year sentence immediately. He has been held without bail since the Oct. 25, 2007, slaying of Jennifer Soto, 21.

Olavarria and Soto had been living in a Portland apartment with two young children at the time of Soto’s death. Her body was recovered from a river more than 30 miles north in Bowdoinham.