Duluth man sentenced to maximum in child's death
DULUTH -- A Duluth man convicted of manslaughter in the death of an 11-month-old boy has been sentenced to eight years and seven months in prison. It's the maximum penalty under sentencing guidelines.
Michael Tahtinen was found guilty last month in St. Louis County of first-degree manslaughter and malicious punishment in the 2008 death of Connor Robison. Before he was sentenced Monday, Tahtinen told the judge he loved the boy like a son and would do nothing to hurt him. The defense argued the boy suffered fatal injuries when he twice crawled over the top of a portable crib and fell to the floor.
The Duluth News Tribune reports Judge Sally Tarnowski told Tahtinen there was sufficient evidence the child did not die from injuries sustained in a fall.