A Greene County man yesterday pleaded guilty to stealing rare African monkeys last year from an animal education center in Washington County.

Michael Anthony Naylor, 19, of Rices Landing, will be sentenced later by Common Pleas Judge John F. DiSalle.

Mr. Naylor entered an open plea, meaning a sentence has not been promised. However, prosecutors have offered a term of 18 to 36 months in exchange for his cooperation.

Both Mr. Naylor and his alleged accomplice, Steven Christopher Labore of Vestaburg, Washington County, gave statements to police admitting responsibility for the thefts.

Each man was charged with burglary, theft, criminal trespass and criminal mischief.

Mr. Labore, who, like Mr. Naylor, is free on $20,000 bond, failed to appear for court proceedings. He has been declared a fugitive and an arrest warrant has been issued.

The monkeys were stolen early Nov. 5 from the Wild World of Animals. The Somerset Township compound is owned by Grant L. Kemmerer III and his wife, Jamie, and operated as an educational program. About 80 exotic animals are kept there.

The guenon monkeys, indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, were gone for only a few hours before a woman called the compound with intentions to return the animals.

A few hours later, she and a teenager met the owner at a gas station to hand over the animals.

The ordeal caused stress in the older of the two monkeys, both females. Mr. Kemmerer said the stress caused one of the monkeys to behave aggressively toward the other one.

According to investigators, the teens broke into the compound expecting to find marijuana growing in a greenhouse. No pot was kept there and none was found, police said.

The suspects broke into three animal cages and fled.

A presentence investigation has been ordered by Judge DiSalle for Mr. Naylor. A sentencing date has not been set.