Judge Clark Erickson sentenced a Kankakee man to 20-years in prison (Tuesday). 32-year-old Edgar Watkins Jr. pleaded guilty as his bench trial was set to begin in Kankakee Circuit Court.

Watkins pleaded guilty to one count of felony first degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Johan Rowe. Rowe was killed in October of 2014.

Watkins could have received 51 years in prison had he been convicted of the original felony charges — two counts of first-degree murder and one count of being an armed habitual offender.

94.1 WGFA