MARION COUNTY — A 20-year-old Centralia man was sentenced Wednesday to 8-years in prison after he pleaded guilty in Marion County Court to residential burglary.

James Powers was originally charged with Class X home invasion with a firearm, Class 1 felony aggravated discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, and Class 1 felony residential burglary. The home invasion and firearm discharge counts were dismissed per the plea agreement.

Powers admitted to the burglary of a home in the 900 block of East Broadway in Centralia. He had been accused of forcibly entering the home just before midnight July 30, 2017, with the intent of robbing the resident.

Powers and Bryce Bradley were further accused of firing their weapons, with the resident returning fire. The resident is legally allowed to possess a firearm and none of the residents of the home were injured.

During the exchange of gunfire, two males with Powers and Bradley were struck – a 22-year-old in the abdomen and a 16-year-old in the groin. Both males were ultimately airlifted to a St. Louis area hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Bradley was arrested a short time later and Powers was arrested a few days later. Bradley is still facing the same three charges and is due in court later this month for a motion hearing.

In addition to his 8-year sentence, Powers will have to serve 2-years mandatory supervised release upon completion of his prison term. He’ll be given day-for-day good time credit and has been recommended for impact incarceration.