Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A 43-year-old Greenville man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for plotting to kill an FBI agent.

U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins says Dwight Spears was sentenced on Wednesday. In July, a federal jury found Spears guilty of conspiring to kill Special Agent Brian Bryan.

Prosecutors have said Spears was in the Spartanburg County jail when he agreed to help fellow inmate Kenneth Manigan kill Bryan to keep the agent from testifying in Manigan's drug trial.

A third person, Marielena Ledy Martinez, agreed to post Spears' bond, give him a weapon and help him find Bryan. But Spears was arrested on an unrelated charge before he could kill Bryan.

Manigan and Martinez have pleaded guilty to conspiracy and will be sentenced later.

Spears' attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)