BLOOMINGTON - A 20-year-old Normal man pleaded guilty Thursday to reckless homicide in connection with a fatal accident in June 2006. Brent K. Bowen was accused of driving his 2002 Pontiac through a stop sign and into a motorcycle driven by Kevin Moore.

The 55-year-old cyclist died shortly after the crash, which occurred at the intersection of county roads 1400 North (Illinois 9) and 1000 East.

Moore was riding east on Illinois 9 on a 2006 Honda motorcycle when he was struck by Bowen, who was driving north on 1000 East.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss drug possession allegations filed against Bowen in August.

Chief felony prosecutor Mark Messman told McLean County Judge Charles Reynard that if the reckless homicide case went to trial, the state would introduce evidence that Bowen admitted he knew the stop sign was at the intersection but ignored it because he was running late.

Bowen told police he did not see any other vehicles approaching and "he didn't know he was involved in an accident until the moment of the collision," said Messman.

The open plea agreement does not include a sentence recommendation. Bowen faces a possible prison term of two to five years in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 22.