Jesse Matthew on Wednesday entered an Alford plea in a September 2005 abduction, sexual assault and attempted murder in Fairfax, Virginia, Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Raymond Morrogh said.
The plea means he does not admit to a criminal act but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to win a conviction.
Matthew also faces a capital murder charge in the case of Hannah Graham, 18, the University of Virginia student who went missing last September after a night out with friends. Her remains were found in October.