OAKLAND -- A member of an Oakland gang called the "Nut Cases" that went on a 10-week crime spree that terrorized the city in late 2002 and early 2003 has pleaded no contest to two counts of voluntary manslaughter for killing two people more than four years ago.

Joe Ralls, 29, who initially faced the possibility of being sentenced to life in prison without parole, will receive a state prison term of 23 years when he is sentenced by Alameda County Superior Court Judge C. Don Clay on May 11, according to prosecutor Darryl Stallworth.

By pleading no contest last Friday, Ralls admitted he killed 24-year-old Jerry Duckworth and 14-year-old Keith Maki-Harris at an apartment at 871 Campbell St. in Oakland on Dec. 27, 2002.

Ralls' plea means that five of the eight Nut Cases defendants charged in 2003 have had their cases resolved but three still face trial.

The gang members called themselves the "Nut Cases" because authorities said they engaged in their crime spree mainly for thrills. Some members of the group sported tattoos of the Planters "Mr. Peanut" logo.

Ralls' half-brother, 23-year-old Demarcus Ralls, was convicted last year of three counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, 17 counts of robbery, one count of kidnapping and one count of shooting into an inhabited dwelling.

In the penalty phase, Stallworth, who is prosecuting all eight defendants introduced evidence, including a taped confession by DeMarcus Ralls, that he was responsible for a fifth murder.

Stallworth sought the death penalty for the younger Ralls, but jurors recommended life in prison without parole instead. Ralls was sentenced to four life terms plus 141 years.

Jhomari Sutton, 24, a half-brother to both Ralls, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of robbery in January and was sentenced to 15 years and four months in state prison.

Previously, Terrance Hegler and Anthony Wilson were convicted and sentenced for several robberies.

Still awaiting trial are the Ralls' cousin, Deonte "Oink" Donald, 21, and their sister-in-law, 29-year-old Aminah "Nay-Nay" Dorsey-Colbert, as well as Leon "Twan" Wiley, 29, the only person in the group who isn't a relative.

Colbert is charged with murder with the special circumstance of lying wait in connection with the execution-style slaying of her former lover, 36-year-old Joseph Mabrey, in the 3200 block of Storer Avenue in the Oakland hills on Oct. 24, 2002.

According to testimony and lawyers' statements at Demarcus Ralls' trial, Colbert's husband, Gregory Colbert Jr., ordered the hit after he learned that Mabrey was having an affair with his wife while he was in prison.

DeMarcus Ralls carried out the shooting, but Aminah Dorsey-Colbert is charged for allegedly helping to set up the incident.

Prosecutors believe that Gregory Colbert, 27, was the leader of the Nut Cases gang but he wasn't charged with the other defendants in the case.

On March 23, Colbert was sentenced to 75 years to life in state prison for murdering another member of the gang, 20-year-old Glen Phason, in June of 2004.