BLOOMINGTON - A McLean County judge told a packed courtroom Friday he will delay sentencing a 21-year-old Carlock man on reckless homicide charges until the court receives more information on substance abuse treatment recommendations for the defendant.

"The treatment component is the core salvation to which the defendant ought to cling," Judge Charles Reynard told Brent Bowen, who is charged in the June 2005 fatal accident that killed Kevin Moore.

Moore was westbound on Illinois 9 on a motorcycle when he was struck by Bowen, who was northbound on McLean County Road 1000 East in a 2002 Pontiac.

The sentencing hearing was delayed until March 14 after Reynard said he wanted more details of an outpatient substance abuse treatment recommendation provided by the defense. Calling treatment "key input into the court's decision," Reynard said he also wants to review character references provided on Bowen's behalf.

Chief Felony Prosecutor Mark Messman asked Reynard to consider a prison term of two to five years for Bowen. The prosecutor argued that Bowen's arrest last year on cocaine possession charges and admissions of regular drug use while on bond supports a prison recommendation. The cocaine charges were dismissed last month.

"I don't believe a community-based sentence is appropriate," said Messman.

Defense attorney Mark Johnson termed the state's prison request "overzealous." He asked for 180 days in the county jail for Bowen.

Johnson argued that Bowen is remorseful and has taken responsibility by pleading guilty to the reckless homicide charge. He said Bowen admitted he was partially blinded by the sun the morning of the accident and "intentionally blew a stop sign" because he was late for work.

The accident "is something he has to deal with his entire life," said Johnson.

The 55-year-old accident victim was married and the father of three adult children. He worked as an operations assistant at for the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System.