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Crime

Man pleads guilty to 2020 Downtown Columbia murder, sentenced to 22 years in prison

Marlin Cortez Johnson
Boone County Sheriff's Office
Marlin Cortez Johnson
By
Published 3:42 PM

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Marlin Johnson pleaded guilty on Friday to the 2020 killing of Joseph Hecht.

Johnson, 27, of Columbia, 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. He is currently in the Boone County Jail.

According to previous reporting, Johnson was accused of shooting Hecht, 38, 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.

Another man, 23-year-old Kesan McNeal, was also charged in connection with the killing. Previous reporting indicates he faced a count of accessory to second-degree murder. Court records indicate McNeal is currently charged with hindering a felony prosecution. A hearing is scheduled in that case for 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 21.

Article Topic Follows: Crime

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