MOORHEAD, Minn. - A 21-year-old Moorhead man pleaded guilty Thursday in Clay County District Court to first-degree manslaughter in the death of a Moorhead man last October.
Anthony Lee Rodriguez told the court he did not intend to kill Bradley Carrington, 55, when he went to Carrington's home the night of Oct. 17 and confronted Carrington regarding sexual abuse allegations made by Rodriguez's younger brother, Zachary St. Claire.
Rodriguez said an argument ensued and when things escalated he hit Carrington in the face about four times.
He said he knocked Carrington out and when he left Carrington's home, Carrington was sitting in a chair and breathing heavily.
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Carrington ultimately died. Clay County Attorney Brian Melton said in court Thursday that the cause of death was bleeding of the brain caused by an assault.
Rodriguez, who faced two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree manslaughter, pleaded guilty under a plea agreement to one count of first-degree manslaughter for causing Carrington's death while committing an assault.
Under the plea agreement, Rodriguez is to serve nine years and nine months in prison. With good behavior, he could be released after serving six and a half years.
Rodriguez is to be sentenced June 8.
