A Schuylkill County man had pleaded guilty to killing his former girlfriend and was immediately sentenced to serve 26 to 52 years in a state prison.

Randall R. Harner, 51, of Girardville, pleaded guilty to third degree murder of Deborah French, 52, of Berwyn, in Chester County court on Wednesday, Oct. 20. He also pleaded to counts of burglary and possessing an instrument of crime.The incident occurred on Aug. 17, 2008 in Chester Springs.Harner was sentenced to serve 20 to 40 years on the murder charge, 2 1/2 to five years on the possession of an instrument of crime charge and 3 1/2 to seven years on the burglary charge, all running consecutively.