MINOT, N.D. (AP) - A man charged with manslaughter in an overdose death in Minot has reached an agreement with prosecutors that reduces the charge, but it drew an admonishment from the father of the man who died.
Nineteen-year-old Aidan Vanderhoef was found dead in the basement of a Minot home July 4, 2015. Aaron Bruce was present at the scene with two other men and was charged with manslaughter and other counts. Bruce accepted a plea deal Wednesday that reduces the manslaughter charge to negligent homicide. Prosecutors agreed to recommend that Bruce spend five to six years behind bars.
The victim's father, John Vanderhoef, told the judge he was "disgusted" with the way the prosecution handled the case and called the agreement "garbage."
The two others charged in the case agreed to testify against Bruce and avoided jail time.
