Jeremy Durant was sentenced to 43 years in prison for the beating death of a 47-year-old man in 2009.
Jeremy Durant, 20, pleaded guilty to murder Wednesday in the death of Vance Bass, 47, in May 2009.
Solicitor Ed Clements says Durant saw Bass walking home in Timmonsville and was dared by a friend to attack him. Clements says Durant hit Bass with brass knuckles, got a pole from behind a building and beat Bass again, killing him.
Bass' family was very emotional in court and pleaded with the judge to sentence Durant to life in prison. Relatives say Bass had to have a closed casket funeral because his face was so disfigured from the beating.
Durant apologized to the family saying he knew it was wrong, and he asked the family to forgive him. Durant's attorney says his client has some mental disabilities.
Judge Michael Nettles sentenced Durant to 43 years in prison.
Randy Baker is also charged in connection with Bass' killing. He's awaiting trial at the Florence County Detention Center.
