Jury convicts snowmobiler in crash that killed Minnesota boy

Published 9:43 pm Tuesday, December 11, 2018

CENTER CITY — A Minnesota jury has convicted a snowmobiler who struck and killed an 8-year-old boy on Chisago Lake.

Jurors on Tuesday convicted Eric Coleman of Chisago City of third-degree murder, drunken driving, criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation.

Coleman’s attorneys conceded he was guilty of the other charges, but not murder.

Email newsletter signup

The crash last January killed second-grader Alan Geisenkoetter Jr. and injured his father, Alan Geisenkoetter Sr. The family was going ice-fishing when the boy was struck.

Prosecutors said Coleman’s blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.165 percent three hours after the crash, more than twice the legal limit.

Coleman is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 7.