Larrell Banks murder charges amended in plea bargain

A man who was facing murder charges has entered a plea bargain allowing him to plead guilty to lesser crimes.

Last year, Larrell Banks was charged with second-degree murder in the death Lamont Sargent, of Columbia.

In the last week, that charge has been dropped because of his guilty plea. The assistant prosecuting attorney confirmed that Wednesday.

Banks pleaded guilty to attempting distribution of a controlled substance and hindering prosecution, amending the murder charge.

Court documents stated that last year, Banks told police he went to the victim’s house, off Eighth Street, to sell drugs.

The documents go on to say Banks admitted he was in the house where the man was killed but said he didn’t pull the trigger.

Banks was then charged with murder in the second degree.

Sept. 9, Banks agreed to the plea deal.

Banks also pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of a controlled substance before the homicide on Eigth Street.

The assistant prosecuting attorney, Roger Johnson, says Banks could still be facing up to 49 years in prison when including past possession charges.

“In this case, he’s pleading guilty in both cases,” said Johnson. “In this case, the plea agreement is open, so a judge will ultimately set the sentences both as to the number of years and to whether they are concurrent or consecutive with one another.”

The judge will sentence Banks at the end of October and will consider all four counts together.

Durantrae Logan was the other man suspected in the murder of Sargent.

Logan pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and armed criminal action and is currently serving out his 20-year sentence.