Community Corner

Sentencing for St. Michael's Tuomisto Set for Friday

The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to the first-degree assault of Stillwater native Adam Baker. Now, a Wright County Judge will determine how much time he will spend in prison.

Alexander Tuomisto, the St. Michael man who punched 31-year-old Adam Baker outside the Corner Bar last spring, will make his final appearance in Wright County District Court Friday, more than two months after pleading guilty to first-degree assault.

Baker, who spent seven months in a coma, died in December. After receiving Tuomisto’s punch, his head hit the pavement, and he never regained consciousness.

Tuomisto will appear in front of Judge Kathleen Motl at 1:30 p.m. Friday. According to the plea agreement, Tuomisto would serve no more than five years in jail and owe no more than $20,000 in restitution for his involvement. 

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Attorneys from both sides believe Motl will abide by the plea arrangements.

Tuomisto first appeared on assault charges in the days and weeks after the fight outside of the bar. The Wright County Attorney upped that charge to second-degree murder in December, soon after Baker died.

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But, Wright County Attorney Tom Kelly said in December he was working with the defendant's law firm, which represented Tuomisto in the case, prior a Feb. 5 omnibus hearing, where Tuomisto entered his guilty plea. Kelly said he was keeping the Baker family informed during the negotiations process, and that any terms would, in effect, be discussed with Baker's survivors. 

"It's an unfortunate case all around," Kelly said. "The issue you have - a fight that spilled out of a bar - usually ends up with a disorderly conduct charge or a lower assault charge. But, with Adam's injuries and then his death, you wind up with a more serious set of charges." 

Had Tuomisto faced the second-degree murder charge (accidental death), he could have faced up to 40 years in jail. 


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