Eric Talmadge, 40, pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Bilal Woods during a dispute on June 12, 2013 Watch video
Eric Talmadge NEWARK -- An East Orange man has pleaded guilty to the 2013 fatal shooting of another man in Newark.
Eric Talmadge, 40, pleaded guilty on Friday to reckless manslaughter and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in connection with the June 12, 2013 shooting death of Bilal Woods, 31, of Newark.
In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors have agreed to recommend a five-year prison sentence for Talmadge. He must serve slightly more than four years before becoming eligible for parole and he will receive credit for time served.
His sentencing is scheduled for March 4 before Superior Court Judge Peter Ryan.
Talmadge had been charged with murder, but that charge was downgraded to reckless manslaughter as part of the plea agreement. Under the plea deal, a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon against Talmadge will be dismissed.
In an email on Wednesday, Katherine Carter, spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, said: "The plea offer was appropriate given the available proofs."
When he pleaded guilty, Talmadge admitted to gunning down Woods as he answered questions from his attorney, Wanda Akin, and Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab, who is handling the case, according to an audio recording of Friday's hearing.
Talmadge said he was in the area of West Kinney Street and Nevada Street in Newark on June 12, 2013 when he encountered Woods. Talmadge said he and Woods had an argument, and that he and others were being threatened.
During the dispute, Talmadge admitted to shooting Woods in the lower part of his body.
"And that reckless act resulted in Mr. Woods bleeding out and dying, is that correct?" Edwab asked Talmadge.
"Yes," he replied.
But in response to Talmadge's claim that he was being threatened, Ryan confirmed with him that he had not been acting in self-defense.
The judge asked Talmadge that when he pulled out the gun and opened fire, "you used excessive force in order to kill this particular individual recklessly, is that correct?"
"Yes," Talmadge replied.
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.