An Ironton man will spend four years in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday in connection with the death of his stepfather last year.

Tommy Keaton, 25, of 2832 S. 11th St, pleaded guilty to a charge of

involuntary manslaughter in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court before Judge Frank McCown.

On Sept. 11, 2004, Ironton police were called to a residence in the 900 block of North Second Street after a woman telephoned the police department and reported that a man was being assaulted. Robert Gore, 45, also of Ironton, was found lying on the sidewalk. He was taken to Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Russell, Ky., where he was later pronounced dead.

Keaton was arrested a short time later.

He is to report to authorities June 8.

Also Wednesday:

Melvin Jordan, 41 Township Road 1023, South Point pleaded guilty to rape of a juvenile. Jordan was sentence to 6 years in prison and found to be a sexual predator.

Lawrence Delawder, 714 Vernon St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to attempt to commit felonious assault. He was sentenced to one year in prison.

Thomas Baker, 23, of 78 Township Road 1412, Chesapeake, was sentenced to nearly 7 months in jail on probation violations.

David Scott Nance, 25, of 414 Mary St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to passing bad checks and forgery. Nance was sentenced to 4 year community controlled sanctions, 2 years probation and 60 days in jail.