DANVILLE – Three of the six people charged in the July murder of a Danville businessman pleaded guilty to lesser charges earlier this week.
Victor Lee, 20, and Stanley D. Porter Jr., 19, both of Danville, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to possession of a firearm with no firearm owner’s identification card, a Class 3 felony, in connection with the death of Bennie W. Moten. They’re each facing five years in prison.
Antonio L. Morris, 28, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, a Class 1 felony. He’s facing 10 years behind bars.
Lee, Porter and Morris’s plea agreements still hinge on whether they testify against the other co-defendants at their murder trials.
The three men originally were indicted on first-degree murder charges, along with Reginald D. Siler, 27, of Chicago and Michael J. Sullivan, 33, and Torrence Woods, 36, both of Danville.
Siler, Sullivan and Woods still face charges of murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated battery. The are scheduled to stand trial on May 3.
If convicted of murder, they could face between 20 years and life in prison.
On July 6, police found Mr. Moten, 45, of Danville, lying in the street in front of his business, J.B. Professional Detail, on Cleveland Avenue. He had been shot multiple times.
Mr. Moten’s business associate, Tovian Watson, was also shot.
Watson was able to run to a nearby business on East Main Street for help.
Watson was taken to the hospital for treatment and released later that day.
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services