"Happy birthday!" a young woman yelled to Joshua C. Hanes as he returned to a holding cell after taking the witness stand Thursday and admitting that he was there when Antonio Thelen shot and killed a man near the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Hanes, who turned 19 Thursday, pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court to one count of aiding an offender. He agreed to testify at Thelen's trial, which is scheduled to begin March 24. District Judge J. Thomas Mott told Hanes that after testifying, he will be conditionally released until sentencing May 15.

Thelen, 32, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the Aug. 18 death of Sean D. Gibbs. Gibbs, 22, was killed near the intersection of Smith Avenue and Kellogg Boulevard.

Under questioning from prosecutor Dan Vlieger, Hanes said Thelen drove a friend's white convertible that day as they went from friend's house to friend's house and to a bar.

Hanes said he had fallen asleep and was trying to get his bearings after he woke up when Thelen got out of the car and began talking to Gibbs, whose vehicle was next to theirs at a stoplight. Hanes said he didn't see Thelen shoot Gibbs but heard the gunshots.

Hanes said Thelen then pulled up outside another friend's house, handed the gun to somebody and drove another two or three blocks before ditching the car.

"Man, don't be saying anything about that," Hanes quoted Thelen as saying. "Don't say nothing to nobody."

Hanes said he provided a change of clothes to Thelen before they went separate ways.

Hanes was arrested Aug. 22 but denied knowing anything about the shooting. A few days later, he told police he was with Thelen and was awakened by the gunshots. Even later, he told an investigator the story he told in court Thursday.

Why didn't you tell police sooner? Vlieger asked.

"My life would be in danger. My family would be in danger," he said. "I seen what he did."

A recommended sentence was not part of Hanes' plea agreement, although the crime carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. State sentencing guidelines do not address the crime.

Pat Pheifer • 651-298-1551