SC man gets 20 years for drug charges in ’09 death

AIKEN, S.C. (AP) — A North Augusta man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection to the 2009 fatal shooting of a 35-year-old man who was attempting to buy marijuana.

The Aiken Standards reports (http://bit.ly/qA3hTx ) that Vincent Manning pleaded guilty in federal court to drug charges related to the Nov. 23, 2009, death of Paul Lirley.

Assistant U.S. Attorney J.D. Rowell says Lirley’s body was found beside his vehicle in a North Augusta driveway.

The prosecutor says Lirley thought Manning arranged for him to buy marijuana. Instead, Manning conspired with 20-year-old Robert Smith to rob Lirley.

Lirley went to Manning’s house, then drove to an abandoned home with Smith, who shot Lirley in the chest during a struggle.

Smith received a 30-year sentence last month after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

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Information from: Aiken Standard, http://www.aikenstandard.com