Sand Springs Murder Suspect's Plea Cancels Trial

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- A man charged with the first-degree murder of a Sand Springs man in March 2008 plead guilty to a lesser charge on the day his trial was to begin in Tulsa County District Court.

Daniel Thomas, accused of shooting and killing 21-year-old Anthony Johnson, entered a plea on Monday morning to a reduced charge of first-degree manslaughter.

The judge in the case then sentenced Thomas to 20 years in prison.

Johnson was found shot to death along an abandoned walking trail in the 1600 block of North McKinley in Sand Springs on March 10, 2008.

4/4/2008 Related story: Man Charged In Sand Springs Murder

Under state law, Thomas must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence, which means he will not be eligible for parole until 17 years of his sentence is served.