CHARLESTON, S.C. - A friend of the man accused of gunning down nine black parishioners during a Bible study in a South Carolina church is appearing before a judge to plead guilty to federal charges.
Under a plea agreement signed by 21-year-old Joey Meek and federal prosecutors, Meek will plead guilty to lying to authorities and failing to report a crime. He appears before U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel on Friday in Charleston.
Authorities allege Meek failed to tell investigators all he knew about Dylann Roof's plans to shoot parishioners at Emanuel AME Church last June.
The 22-year-old Roof, who is white, is charged with hate crimes and other charges in federal court. He also faces nine counts of murder in state court in a death-penalty trial set for next January.
