MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 22-year-old Eagan man has pleaded guilty to second-degree intentional attempted murder — and was subsequently sentenced — in connection to an assault that occurred in a Burnsville townhome on April 7, 2009, the Dakota County Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
In 2009, Taylor Pass was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the death of 35-year-old Tina SanRoman and multiple counts of attempted murder and felony assault of a victim identified only as O.A.R. The charges arose from an incident where Pass allegedly stabbed SanRoman and O.A.R. in the garage of SanRoman’s townhome. SanRoman eventually died from injuries suffered in the incident.
A Dakota County jury returned not guilty verdicts on the charges of murder related to SanRoman, but was unable to reach verdicts on the charges of attempted murder and assault of O.A.R.
The judge, at the time, ruled to dismiss the prosecution on the remaining charges in the interests of justice, but the Minnesota Supreme Court reversed the decision on June 26, 2013. The case was sent back to trial court for trial and the remaining offense proceeded without violating Pass’ constitutional right to due process.
So, on Aug. 16, 2013, Pass pled guilty and was sentenced according to the terms of his plea agreement, which included a stayed sentence of 153 months in prison, credit given for 240 days served in jail and he was put on probation for 20 years.
“The guilty plea and sentence has brought to an end this very tragic and difficult case for all concerned,” Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said.
Backstrom also expressed his sympathy to the family and friends of Tina SanRoman and his wishes to O.A.R. for his continuing recovery from the traumatic injuries he suffered.
