WATSEKA — A Watseka man was sentenced to 27 years in prison Friday in connection with the 2009 fatal shooting of a man outside a Watseka bar.

Iroquois County State's Attorney Jim Devine said Jeffrey D. Hite, 32, will be required to serve 100 percent of the prison term imposed by Judge Gordon Lustfeldt and will not be eligible for early release.

Hite was given credit for the 25 months he has already served at the Iroquois County Jail, Devine said.

Hite pleaded guilty in January to an amended count of first-degree murder, admitting that he shot and killed Roger L. McVay, 40, on April 14, 2009, outside of McSki's Place following an argument between the two.

The murder charge was amended — to drop any reference to a gun being used — as part of a plea agreement between Devine and Hite's attorney, Ed Glazer Jr. of Kankakee. The original charge would have required a minimum 45-year sentence, but the amended charge made Hite eligible for a reduced sentence of 20 to 34 years in prison.

"Because he had no criminal history, we agreed to cap (the sentence) at 34 years," Devine said. "We asked for 34 years, and the defense asked for 20. Judge Lustfeldt then sentenced him to 27."

Lustfeldt imposed the sentence after hearing testimony from a police officer and impact statements from the victim's mother and brother, Devine said.

Hite was one of two Watseka men charged in connection with the shooting. Chad Walwer, 25, pleaded guilty in December 2009 to unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and was sentenced to nine years in prison. Walwer admitted to supplying Hite with the gun that was used to kill Mr. McVay.

Devine said Hite and Mr. McVay had been arguing with each other "for parts of the afternoon" before Hite asked Walwer, one of his roommates, to bring the gun from his apartment to the bar where they were.

Then about 7:30 p.m., the argument "went from inside the bar to outside on the sidewalk," Devine said. At that point, Hite shot Mr. McVay three times — once in the arm and twice in the "middle of the back," killing him, Devine said.

Hite was arrested that night, after he returned to the area of the bar and was recognized as the shooter by witnesses, Devine said.