MISSOULA - A federal judge has accepted a plea agreement that drops murder-related charges against a man prosecutors allege ordered the killing of three women at a Florence hair salon eight years ago.

Lincoln Benavides pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distributing methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy accepted a plea agreement in which three counts each of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering were dropped.

The plea agreement, which calls for a 30-year prison term, was filed less than two weeks after defense attorneys filed a sealed motion alleging prosecutorial misconduct and outrageous government conduct.

Co-defendant Brian Weber has filed similar motions. The men were charged with the November 2001 deaths of Brenda Patch, Cynthia Paulus and Dorothy Harris and with running a drug ring.