PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) -- A South Peoria man pleaded guilty Friday to trying to solicit the death of a possible witness in a case against him.

Aubrae Harper, 44, pleaded guilty to attempted solicitation of murder and was sentenced to five years behind bars. Normally, the felony carries a 15-year maximum sentence.

He was set to begin a bench trial in the courtroom of Circuit Judge Steve Kouri when he entered into the plea agreement with Peoria County prosecutors.

According to court records, Harper wrote to a person in early 2024, asking to kill a man whom he allegedly shot and who could testify in a trial.

The initial letter was mailed out in the spring of 2024. In that letter, Harper wrote that he wanted the person to “take care” of the person and to eliminate him. The letter uses many eu

See Full Page