10-year prison term for fatal home invasion

A 2013 murder case in Kankakee has ended with a 20-year sentence, cut in half, for 26-year-old Curtis J. Edwards. He agreed to a plea deal as his trial was to get underway.

Edwards was facing first-degree murder charges for what prosecutors said was a botched home invasion that left his accomplice dead. Antonio Smith was killed in the March 2013 attempted robbery.

Smith died of a gunshot wound when he and Edwards struggled with the robbery victim.

Two other men are yet to stand trial for first-degree murder.

Edwards decided to accept a plea deal agreement while a jury was being picked. The plea is for 10 years – which was 20 years reduced to 50% for home invasion.

94.1 WGFA