Just before Richard Neyman was to go on trial this morning for the shooting death of a man, he decided to plead guilty and avoid the trial.

Neyman pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony. In exchange, he will face a 7 1/2 to 15 years prison term when he’s sentenced May 6 by Butler County Judge Timothy McCune.

His trial was expected to last most of this week.

Neyman is charged with killing Craig Haas on the city man’s porch.

“Nothing justifies the death of Mr. Haas,” said Assistant District Attorney Mark Lope, who today crafted a plea agreement with Neyman. “But we thought this was an appropriate resolution based on the evidence and the witnesses.”

Neyman, 38, appeared in court wearing a tie and dress slacks as his trial was scheduled to begin this morning.

Attorneys brokered the agreement minutes after the last of 16 jurors, who were picked last week, arrived at the courthouse.

Public defender Charles Nedz, one of two attorneys representing Neyman, after court said accepting the plea offer was in Neyman’s best interest because Neyman could have faced life in prison if the jury had convicted him of first-degree murder.