Columbia man pleads guilty to hindering felony prosecution in relation to 2020 shooting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who was accused to be connected to a 2020 fatal shooting in Downtown Columbia pleaded guilty on Wednesday.

Kesan McNeal, 27, pleaded guilty to hindering a felony prosecution and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was given credit for time served.

According to previous reporting, McNeal had been charged with murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in relation to the shooting death of 38-year-old Joseph Hecht. Additional reporting shows he had been charged at one point with accessory to second-degree murder.

Another Columbia man, Marlin Johnson, 27, had pleaded guilty in July to shooting Hecht. Johnson, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 22 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. He was credited with 1,094 days served.

According to previous reporting, Johnson was accused of shooting Hecht to death in Downtown Columbia on July 25, 2020. The shooting took place near Eighth and Locust streets. Johnson had turned himself in later in the month.