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Peoria man sentenced to prison in killing, arson

Posted October 08, 2014 1:01 am

Associated Press

PEORIA - A Marquette Heights man has been sentenced to 27 ½ years in prison for fatally stabbing a Peoria nightclub owner.

Bryan Stewart pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder and aggravated arson and was sentenced in Peoria County court. He killed Todd Scholl and burned his body in October 2013.

Prosecutors agreed to drop a first-degree murder charge and lesser arson count in the plea deal. He will have to spend at least 15 years in prison.

Firefighters and police found Scholl's body when they responded to a building fire. Prosecutors say two fires were set on the building's first floor, including one set on Scholl's body. An autopsy showed Scholl had been stabbed five times.

Stewart had said he acted in self-defense after Scholl attacked him.

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