Sauk Rapids Teen Charged As Adult In One-Punch Killing
ST. CLOUD (WCCO) -- A 17-year-old Sauk Rapids boy has been charged as an adult in the deadly assault of a man in St. Cloud, the Stearns County Attorney's Office announced Monday.
Jesse Jean Smithers faces second-degree murder, first-degree man slaughter and first-degree assault – all felonies.
According to the authorities, St. Cloud Police were dispatched around 11:20 p.m. on Sept. 20, 2012 on a report of an assault in the 600 block, between 8th and 9th avenues south.
Investigators say Smithers was a passenger in a vehicle that was driving through the alley where the victim, Colton Gleason, and two other individuals were walking.
Smithers told the driver to stop the car and then got out of the vehicle. Charges say Smithers then approached the group and struck Gleason in the head with a closed fist. Gleason dropped to the ground. Smither then got back into the vehicle and said he punched Gleason.
Police say Gleason was unconscious while being transported by ambulance to St. Cloud Hospital, and regained consciousness at the hospital, but died from his injuries.
Police arrested Smithers after receiving a tip a few days later.
Smithers' bail has been set at $1,000,000 with no conditions and $500,000 with conditions. The next hearing is set for Jan. 17.
