(EFFINGHAM, IL) — A 32-year-old Vandalia man accused of providing a fatal dose of heroin to an Altamont man early last year was sentenced Wednesday in Effingham County court to more than a decade in prison after he pleaded guilty to drug-induced homicide. Richard B. Marschke entered his guilty plea as part of a negotiated deal. Marschke had been charged with drug-induced homicide in connection with the Jan. 14, 2014, death of Jordan Kull at an Altamont home. Even with credit for 225 days time served, Marschke will have to serve 75 percent of his 18-year sentence under state guidelines. State’s Attorney Bryan Kibler said after the hearing that Marschke will likely have to serve about 13 years of his sentence. Marschke, who admitted to a confidential informant that Kull had been “green-lighted” for death, may have escaped more serious charges by pleading guilty, Kibler said, noting that if thecase had gone to trial, additional charges would have been filed. Kibler said during the hearing that Special Agent Jeff Kline of the Illinois State Police would have testified that Marschke was overheard telling his ex-wife, Jessica Bernahl, that he provided heroin to Kull on the night he died. Bernahl had been wearing a wire at the time of her conversation with Marschke.

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