DECATUR - A 30-year-old Decatur man faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter in the stabbing death of his older brother.

LaWarren Thomas entered what is known as a prudent plea, meaning that he didn't admit stabbing DiAngilos K. Thomas, but decided it was in his best interest to plead guilty. In exchange for the guilty plea, Macon County State's Attorney Jack Ahola dropped charges of first-degree murder.

The involuntary manslaughter charge is punishable by three to 14 years in prison, but Ahola agreed to ask for a sentence no longer than five years. LaWarren Thomas is not eligible for probation because of a 1998 conviction for aggravated discharge of a firearm. Circuit Judge Ted Paine set sentencing for Aug. 18.

LaWarren Thomas' trial on murder charges had been scheduled to begin Monday.

According to police, the brothers got into a fight at about 9 p.m. March 3 in the parking lot of LaWarren Thomas' employer in the Park 101 industrial park on the city's northeast side.

DiAngilos Thomas, 39, had gone to the business looking for his truck, which he had loaned to his brother earlier in the day. The two exchanged words, then got into a physical fight. Ahola said DiAngilos Thomas was the aggressor during the confrontation.

Police said DiAngilos Thomas grabbed his brother by the shirt collar and pushed him back onto a car. Witnesses told police that as DiAngilos Thomas raised his fist to throw a punch, he dropped LaWarren Thomas and realized he was bleeding and unable to breathe.

DiAngilos Thomas died at St. Mary's Hospital days later. The cause of death was trauma to the heart.

Ahola said LaWarren Thomas admitted getting into a confrontation with his brother, but said he did not have a knife. According to police, LaWarren Thomas said his brother was swinging a knife and stabbed himself in the back with it. The stab wound was to the chest, however.

LaWarren Thomas remains in Macon County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond. His attorney, Asher Geisler, asked Paine to reduce his bond pending the sentencing hearing. Ahola objected because LaWarren Thomas is facing a mandatory prison term. Paine told Geisler to file the motion in writing and it would be heard at a later date.

Relatives of the brothers declined to comment after the hearing.

Stephanie Potter can be reached at spotter@;herald-review.com or 421-7984.