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WALKER - Cass County Attorney, Christopher Strandlie reports that on Nov. 26, Sheldon James Smith, age 21, of Walker, Minn., was sentenced to serve 18 years in prison for the March 21, 2012 murder of Jason Dale Howard, age 22. Smith had previously entered a plea of guilty to Second Degree Intentional Murder.

According to the criminal complaint , law enforcement officials and medical emergency personnel were called to a residence on Midway Drive, near Walker, at approximately 10:15 p.m., on March 21st. Upon arrival it was discovered that Howard had been stabbed in the upper chest. He was airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital, in Brainerd, Minn., where he subsequently died.

The investigation revealed that two groups of individuals had been having a series of physical and verbal confrontations in days prior to March 21st. The situation culminated by the two groups getting into a physical fight wherein Smith stabbed Howard.

Judge John Smith pronounced the sentence in Cass County District Court, on Nov. 26.

The Cass County Sheriff's Office and Leech Lake Tribal Police were involved with the investigation.[[In-content Ad]]

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