A 22-year-old Sanford man who had been charged with murder in the stabbing death of another man early last year has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter.

Joshua Stewart waived his right to a trial and accepted a 20-year sentence for his role in the death of 21-year-old Allen Bennison. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal threatening, which carried a five-year sentence to be served concurrently.

Stewart was charged with murder after police say he stabbed Bennison in the parking lot of a store near the Sanford Airport on Jan. 23, 2007.