A 31-year-old man accused of setting a homeless man ablaze pleaded guilty to murder on March 30, the District Attorney’s Office announced.

Head Deputy William Hodgman of Target Crimes Division said Ben Matthew Martin pleaded to one count each of first-degree murder, torture and arson causing great bodily injury.

The defendant additionally admitted allegations that the murder was intentional and involved the infliction of torture and that the offense was committed by means of lying in wait.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Terry Bork is expected to sentence the defendant on April 28 in Department 55 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.  Martin faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The charges stem from an incident on October 9, 2008, during which Martin doused John McGraham with gasoline and used a road flare to set the victim on fire, prosecutors said.  Martin was arrested January 22, 2009 by Los Angeles Police Department Robbery Homicide detectives.