Doucette gets 41 months for running over and killing room mate

A Franklin man has been sentenced to more than 3 years in prison for running over and killing his room mate in 2017.

In Yellow Medicine County District Court in Granite Falls Tuesday afternoon, Judge Dwayne Knutsen sentenced 39-year-old Russell Doucette to 41 months behind bars to be served at the prison in St. Cloud. Doucette was given credit for 41 days he has already served.

On July 27th 2017, Doucette and his room mate Randy Oletzke got into an argument at the rural Franklin home the two shared. Doucette told officers as he was leaving the farm site Oletzke appeared in front of his truck and he hit him at an estimated 70 to 75 miles an hour. Doucette then left to go drinking at a friend’s house, and the next day call Renville County authorities who found Oletzke dead.

Earlier this year Doucette had pleaded guilty to a charge of Criminal Vehicular Homicide but that plea was later withdrawn as he was about to be sentenced. In November he was tried on Criminal Vehicular Homicide and 2nd Degree Manslaughter charges in Granite Falls on a change of venue, and was convicted on the manslaughter count.

(JP Cola, KWLM)