Two men entered guilty pleas to murder in the second degree during court appearances Tuesday.
Robert Jackson and Richard Knee appeared before Circuit Court Judge Timothy Perigo.
Per a plea agreement, each will serve 15 years in prison on the charge of murder in the second degree and 15 years on the charge of burglary in the first degree. Sentences will run concurrently.
Jackson and Knee were originally charged with murder in the first degree, armed criminal action and burglary in the first degree stemming from a home invasion in conjunction with Carl Lee Jackson in rural McDonald County on Oct. 22, 2014.
During the home invasion, Rodney Frederick was shot and killed by Carl Lee Jackson.
Both Robert Jackson and Knee testified on the state's behalf in the trial of Carl Lee Jackson.
Carl Lee Jackson was tried and convicted by a McDonald County jury in May, on charges of murder in the first degree, armed criminal action and burglary in the first degree. He is scheduled for formal sentencing in July.
Sheriff Michael Hall said deputies were dispatched to a residence at 222 Donnely Lane at 9:07 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014, for a victim with a possible gunshot wound. Hall said upon arrival deputies found Frederick, 35, dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
Frederick's mother, and a 20-year-old male friend of the victim were tied up by the suspects. The mother and the friend were not injured. The three suspects wore masks.
Hall said that, during a search of the victim's residence, an indoor marijuana growing operation was discovered. Hall said "this was not a random incident, it was possibly drug-related or personally motivated."
Community on 06/23/2016