COEUR d’ALENE — A man who was high on heroin when he ran his pickup truck into a motorcycle at a stop sign near Rathdrum, killing a young woman, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and trafficking heroin.

The guilty pleas came at a status conference in the case against Varsal Jarnagin, 41, which had been set this week for a jury trial. An earlier trial setting was vacated when Jarnagin and his attorneys agreed to mediate the case with prosecutors.

Jarnagin pleaded guilty Friday to trafficking heroin, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and vehicular manslaughter, which has a maximum penalty of 10 years behind bars. Two additional drug charges were dropped as part of a plea offer.

Jarnagin is accused of being high last June 16 when he rammed his 2007 GMC pickup truck into the back of a motorcycle stopped at the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and Huetter Road, killing Alexa N. Mrgich, 23, of Hayden.

Mrgich was pronounced dead before medics could transport her to Kootenai Health, according to reports.

Jarnagin’s lengthy criminal history in Kootenai County goes back two decades. When he was arrested for the June 16 crash that killed Mrgich, he had already been booked into the Kootenai County Jail more than 20 times on drug and assault charges, according to authorities.

In addition to being charged with vehicular manslaughter, Jarnagin was sentenced to 180 days in jail last year for domestic assault. While he was out of jail on bail, he was arrested for trafficking heroin.

At last week’s hearing, First District Judge Scott Wayman accepted Jaragin’s guilty pleas and ordered a presentence investigation. Investigators will produce a history of Jarnagin that will include his criminal background as well as a social history, and a sentencing recommendation to the court.

Wayman set a one-hour sentencing hearing for 1 p.m., July 11 in Coeur d’Alene. Until then, Jarnagin will be held in jail without bond.