CHESTER, Ill. — A man who was just sentenced in federal court to 15 years in prison on a drug case has pleaded guilty in the death of an Illinois police officer.

WSIL-TV says Jason Stoker’s bench trial for the murder of Chester Police Officer James Brockmeyer in 2016 was scheduled to start Monday morning.

Stoker instead pleaded guilty to reckless homicide today in exchange for several charges being dropped including murder.

Brockmeyer crashed his patrol car and died while pursuing Stoker.

Authorities say Stoker was blamed for the death because he didn’t comply with the officer’s orders and was driving at a high speed.