Grand Forks, North Dakota (trfnews.i234.me) — A Grand Forks man has been sentenced to prison in a 2024 homicide case.
Donald Joseph Bartlette, 45, was sentenced Monday in Grand Forks County District Court.
He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Anthony Kiehl, 49.
Court records describe the case as a beating death from October 2024.
Sentence ordered
Judge Jason McCarthy imposed a 10-year prison sentence, court records say.
Bartlette received credit for 499 days already served in jail.
The court also ordered $775 in court fees.
He must serve the sentence with the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Court records say a sentence reduction may be possible under state law.
Charge reduced after plea
Bartlette was first charged with intentional murder, according to court documents.
He later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Readers can review homicide laws at the North Dakota Century Code.
Co-defendant sentenced earlier
Nicholas Wride-Arnold, 35, was sentenced earlier in the case.
He was sentenced in August, court records say.
He received 360 days in the Grand Forks County Correctional Center.
He also received 12 months of probation.
Wride-Arnold pleaded guilty to reduced charges, court records say.
Those included evidence tampering and obstruction charges.
He was ordered to pay $525 in court fees.
What court records say happened
Court documents say Kiehl was found unresponsive in his Cherry Street apartment.
Records say a 911 call came in just after 9 p.m. on Oct. 24, 2024.
Police found Kiehl with head and face injuries, records say.
Life-saving efforts were attempted, according to the filing.
Kiehl was taken to Altru, where he was pronounced dead at 9:54 p.m.
Video, witness account, and search
Surveillance video showed Bartlette entering the apartment around 6:11 p.m., records say.
The video showed him leaving around 6:44 p.m., records say.
Court documents say he had a bleeding injury to his left hand.
Records say he returned around 7:06 p.m.
Records say Wride-Arnold arrived around 7:21 p.m.
Video showed both men leaving together around 7:23 p.m., records say.
Records say they returned again and looked inside the apartment.
Video also showed them wiping their hands and faces with a towel, records say.
Records say Bartlette left on a bicycle around 8:13 p.m.
A witness later spoke with police, court documents say.
The witness said Bartlette seemed upset and mentioned an injured wrist.
Court records say Bartlette claimed the victim came at him with a knife.
Investigators later found a knife with blood, records say.
Records also mention broken table legs with blood on them.
Autopsy findings and court conditions
A preliminary autopsy said Kiehl died from blunt force head injuries, records say.
The manner of death was ruled a homicide, the report said.
The autopsy also noted superficial knife wounds, court records say.
Investigators also documented statements claiming self-defense, records say.
As part of sentencing, Bartlette must follow court conditions.
He must not break laws and must update the court on address changes.
He also must have no contact with the victim’s family, court records say.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
Only 10 years sounds like a few sex offenders need to be beaten to death its all good I have a few years to spare
10 years for killing someone wow that’s it