Peoria Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Beating Man to Death With a Board

A Peoria man has been sentenced to 25 years behind bars for beating a man to death with a board.

The (Peoria) Journal Star reports 36-year-old Darcy Morris was sentenced Tuesday in Peoria County court. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in a deal with prosecutors, who dropped other murder and mob action charges. He had faced up to 60 years behind bars in the July 2013 beating death of John Dunnigan.

Authorities say Dunnigan tried to break up a fight when he was attacked and beaten with the board. They say he was intensive care for days and died about two months later in a nursing home.

Two other men have pleaded guilty to mob action. There were sentenced to six months in jail and probation.