- Larry Millete pleaded guilty Monday to an assault weapon charge, clearing the way for his murder sentencing.
- Judge Enrique Camarena set sentencing for September 29 on both the murder and weapons counts.
- Millete faces up to 25 years to life for first-degree murder, plus up to three years for the weapon charge.
- May Millete’s body has never been found; the prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence.
Larry Millete, the Chula Vista man convicted of murdering his wife May “Maya” Millete in 2021, has pleaded guilty to a separate assault weapon charge, removing the final legal hurdle before his sentencing. The hearing on Monday, July 20, 2026, set the stage for a September date when Millete will learn his prison term.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing Date
Millete appeared in court for the first time since his July 9 murder conviction. He changed his plea to guilty on the charge of possessing an unregistered assault weapon, which was discovered during a search of his home in 2021. The weapon was seized when Millete was served a gun violence restraining order. Other guns were also seized during that search. Judge Enrique Camarena then scheduled sentencing for both counts on September 29. The judge also allowed cameras in the courtroom for the first time, citing the conclusion of the trial. He had previously barred cameras during the trial to protect the jury and prevent media exposure from impacting justice. Millete was brought into the courtroom in shackles, wearing a jail jumpsuit, and notably did not wear a COVID mask, which he had routinely worn at every hearing since his arrest. No agreement has been made regarding what term Millete will receive for the assault weapon count, which carries a maximum penalty of three years. Millete has been in custody since late 2021, and that time—almost five years—will count toward time served. It remains to be seen if his attorneys will file motions for a new trial or appeal the verdict, which could also delay sentencing.
The gun charge was not mentioned during the murder trial because Millete’s defense attorneys successfully argued to exclude it through a legal process called bifurcation. Essentially, the gun charge could be tried separately because it wasn’t relevant to the murder case. The sentencing for his murder conviction had been on hold until the gun charge was resolved. Thus, jurors were not tasked with deciding the assault weapon count.
Murder Conviction Details
On July 9, a Chula Vista jury found Millete guilty of first-degree murder in the disappearance of his wife of 20 years. May Millete was last seen entering the family home on January 7, 2021, around 4:45 p.m. Surveillance footage captured her entry, but no video showed her leaving. Her last known communication was a text to her sister at 8:15 p.m. that evening. Her cell phone terminated all cellular connections at about 1:25 a.m. on January 8. Despite extensive searches, her body has never been found. Police and prosecutors say there is no evidence to suggest she is still alive.
Prosecutor Christy Bowles argued that Millete killed his wife in their home, loaded her body into an SUV, and disposed of it on January 8. The case relied on circumstantial evidence, including Millete’s efforts to track his wife and his solicitations of “spell casters” to influence her behavior. Bowles conceded that she could not specifically say how May Millete died, but she argued Larry was the only person with the means and motive to kill her. Bowles noted that Millete’s phone terminated cellular connections on the morning of January 8, and he left the house in an SUV at about 6:45 a.m. and did not return until about 6 p.m., with his whereabouts unknown. The prosecutor argued that Millete engaged in possessive and controlling behavior towards his wife, which escalated after she made it clear she wanted to divorce him. The requests to spell casters evolved over the months leading to May's disappearance from seeking to make her fall in love with him again to making her obey him to causing her to become sick or incapacitated so she would be dependent on him. Bowles argued those messages illustrated his capability to cause his wife physical harm and noted his spell requests abruptly ended following May's disappearance.
The defense, led by attorney Liann Sabatini, argued the case lacked a body, crime scene, murder weapon, or eyewitnesses. Sabatini characterized Millete’s behavior as part of a “tragic investigation” into his wife’s affair, claiming he was being psychologically abused. Sabatini argued Larry was being psychologically abused and "gaslit" by May, who was denying the affair to family and friends while at the same time portraying Larry as "crazy" and "the villain" for suspecting it. While she said jurors might not agree with how Larry handled the situation, Sabatini said, "There is no playbook for heartbreak." Jurors deliberated for about five hours before returning the guilty verdict.
Local California Context
This case has gripped San Diego County, particularly the Chula Vista community, since May Millete’s disappearance in 2021. The Millete family home is located in a suburban neighborhood, and the case has drawn widespread media attention. The sentencing will take place at the South Bay Courthouse in Chula Vista.
Background
The Millete case began on January 7, 2021, when May Millete vanished after returning home from a trip to a local market. Larry Millete was arrested in October 2021 on suspicion of her murder, but her body has never been recovered. The trial, which started in May 2026, lasted nearly two months and highlighted issues of domestic control and the use of so-called spell casters.
Conclusion
With the guilty plea on the weapon charge resolved, all eyes are now on the September 29 sentencing hearing. Millete faces a potential life sentence, and the judge will decide whether the sentences run concurrently or consecutively. Under California law, first-degree murder carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison, meaning Millete would be eligible for parole after serving at least 25 years. The case remains a somber reminder of a missing woman whose fate may never be fully known.