LAPLACE — A local man is facing sentencing this month following a plea agreement that reduced his charge of second degree murder to manslaughter.

Lionel Labranche, 25, of LaPlace was arrested in January 2014 following the killing of Cardell Cosey of Reserve.

At the time of his arrest, Labranche was charged with second-degree murder, obstruction of justice, illegal possession of a stolen firearm and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The resolution of those charges and the amount of time Labranche will spend behind bars is to be determined.

District Attorney Bridget A. Dinvaut said the prosecution entered into the plea agreement after conferring with the victim’s family members, who she said were “satisfied” with the agreement.

“State probation is conducting the presentencing report,” Dinvaut said. “They will do a complete background investigation on (Labranche), checking things like his schooling and his criminal history to determine what would be an appropriate sentence for him.

“We feel like 20 years should be the maximum sentence based on the facts and circumstances of this case.”

According to the district attorney, the sentence for second degree murder is life in prison without the benefit of parole.

The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office reported Cosey was killed Nov. 17, 2013, on East 13th Street in Reserve. Physical evidence collected during the investigation led detectives to suspect Labranche as being responsible for the killing, authorities previously said.

Four additional subjects were arrested and booked on charges in connection to the killing of Cosey.

Dinvaut said she couldn’t comment on the others arrested because their cases are pending prosecution. Dinvaut would not comment as to how Cosey was killed and Labranche’s involvement.

“I’m not going to disclose the facts at this time,” she said. “I can’t really say anything until the sentencing is complete. We have to wait for the (presentencing investigation report) to come out. Even though he took the plea, the prosecution is still going on. I’m not going to jeopardize the status of this case.”

Dinvaut said the plea is not complete until Labranche is sentenced May 30, adding his other charges would be resolved at that time.

Labranche’s defense attorney Nghana Gauff said the District Attorney’s office made an offer of manslaughter.

“They offered to reduce the bill,” she said. “His sentence is going to cap because of the plea bargain. It can’t go beyond 20 years. So he could have anywhere from zero to 20 years. Ordinarily, a manslaughter conviction has a sentence range from zero to 40.”

Gauff said she wouldn’t make a personal comment on the case until after sentencing.