HUTCHINSON — A preliminary hearing for a Kansas man jailed early New Year’s Day after he allegedly stabbed a man to death waived his preliminary hearing Monday afternoon and entered a plea to a lesser charge.

Kevin Wayne Ginn Jr., 34, Hutchinson, allegedly stabbed 24-year-old Deshamus Diron Lucky during a large disturbance just after 2 a.m. in the area of 8th & Madison.

Ginn was originally charged with voluntary manslaughter but in March, the state amended the complaint to murder in the second degree. They added two other counts of voluntary manslaughter and aggravated battery.

Ginn entered a plea to one count of involuntary manslaughter. The state dropped the other charges. As part of the agreement, he cannot seek any type of departure at sentencing and both sides will recommend 90 months or seven years and six months in prison.

On New Year’s Eve, after a night of drinking and bar hopping, Ginn and the victim attended a party in the 300 block of West 8th.

Police reported Ginn got into an altercation and Lucky was stabbed in his upper chest, collapsed on a porch and later died from his wound at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.

Ginn was also taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries, then taken to jail.

Ginn is no stranger to the law with numerous other convictions in Sedgwick, Johnson, Labette and Wyandotte counties.

Although the two sides will recommend the seven years, six months, Judge Tim Chambers could sentence him to over 11 years in prison.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 22.