FARGO, N.D. (AP) — An Elbow Lake, Minnesota man has been sentenced to serve 6 ½ years in prison after reaching a plea deal in the beating death of a homeless man in Fargo.

Clayton Lockwood Jr. initially pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in the November 2014 death of 54-year old Mario Perez. Perez was found beaten in an empty apartment in downtown Fargo and died in a hospital two weeks later.

Lockwood was sentenced Monday after agreeing to an Alford plea, meaning he didn't admit guilt but did acknowledge there was enough evidence to convict him.

He'll be on probation for five years following his prison term.

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