A homosexual man originally charged with second-degree murder for shooting his male partner to death now faces a much lighter sentence.

During an unannounced plea hearing Friday in 5th District Court in Jerome, Clifford J. Keipper, 31, entered an Alford plea to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter for the Jan. 1 death of Jeremy Lee Thomas, who Keipper told police was his husband. The two men lived in Jerome County.

Keipper faced a maximum possible punishment of life in prison under the second-degree murder charge. But now he's looking at a maximum punishment of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The plea hearing Friday came after a day of private mediation sessions between a judge, Keipper and lawyers.

Jerome County Prosecutor Mike Seib did not return numerous phone calls from the Times-News about the case. Keipper was released after an August bond hearing where the defense argued for a lower bond, and the county didn't object, court records show.

Keipper told police he shot Thomas dead, court records show. By taking an Alford plea, Keipper acknowledges there is enough evidence to convict him of involuntary manslaughter, but he isn't admitting guilt.

Thomas was fatally shot in the face in a crime prosecutors originally asserted was with malice aforethought. They even wanted to seek a stiffer sentence because it involved a weapon.

But on Friday prosecutors abandoned that plight, saying now that Keipper shot and killed Thomas without malice.

Keipper's lawyers have argued he shot in self-defense, but authorities didn't find blood spatter on a firearm that Keipper alleged Thomas was holding.

Malice can be implied when circumstances around the killing show an abandoned and malignant heart, according to court records.

Fifth District Judge John Butler recently denied defense motions to dismiss the case against Keipper. He agreed with a magistrate judge who found there was probable cause to prosecute Keipper for second-degree murder.

Butler wrote in his March ruling - when Keipper was still charged with second-degree murder - that there was "sufficient evidence to establish that the defendant was the one who committed the crime, and that the killing was unlawful," court records show.

Andrea Jackson may be reached at 208-735-3380 or ajackson@magicvalley.com.