Palmdale man pleads no contest to killing 2-year-old girl

PALMDALE, Calif. -- A Palmdale man pleaded no contest Thursday to a charge of second-degree murder for fatally beating his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter in September.

Matthew Worthen, 24, made his plea shortly before jury selection was set to begin, the L.A. County District Attorney's Office said.

Worthen assaulted the 2-year-old when she was left with him for a few minutes on September 22, according to prosecutors. The child's mother returned home and found the girl having difficulty breathing. The girl was hospitalized, where she died.

Worthen is expected to be sentenced to 15 years to life in prison on September 8, when he's scheduled to return to court.