FARGO - Sergei Isaac Carlson was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility for parole this morning for killing his 16-year-old sister last summer in her south Fargo bedroom.
He also apologized during a hearing today and appeared to become emotional when his attorney pleaded for leniency from the judge.
"I just hope that they forgive me because I didn't want any of this to happen," Carlson told the court.
Judge John Irby handed down the sentence after listening to recommendations from prosecutors and the defense.
Carlson's defense attorney Mark Beauchene asked for a 30-year sentence, saying his client was the victim of physical and emotional torture and abuse while living in Russia that impacted him severely despite being adopted at age 7 by a loving family.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Something in Sergei's emotional development is broken," Beauchene said.
His older sister, Amanda Carlson, told the court that when Sergei killed then-16-year-old Whitney Carlson, he hurt the people that loved him the most.
She said she will always love him but he has forever lost her trust and respect and is no longer the person she once knew.
The earliest Sergei Carlson would be eligible for parole in his early 60s.
Assistant Cass County State's Attorney Tracy Peters said Carlson's parents both plan to maintain a relationship with Carlson.
"They've both expressed their desire to still be parents to him and I expect that in their own way and in their own time they will do that," Peters said.
Sergei Carlson, 16, pleaded guilty to murder and deviate sexual act charges on Sept. 15 in Cass County District Court.
The Sun Prairie, Wis., teen was charged for the July 2007 incident, which occurred when he was 15, after a police interview. The case began in juvenile court but was quickly transferred to adult court, opening the details to the public.
ADVERTISEMENT
The teen told police he "strangled her with his hands and placed pillows over her face to muffle her sounds." He also said he engaged in sexual contact with her after she died, court documents state.
On Sept. 25, Carlson was moved from the Cass County Juvenile Detention Center to the Cass County Jail - 12 hours after two teenagers attempted to escape from the facility. A female correctional officer was assaulted in the head and upper arm with a piece of wood during the incident. Authorities could not confirm if Carlson was involved in the escape attempt because he is a juvenile.
For more on this story, see Friday's Forum and checkout the Inside the Courtroom blog at www.areavoices.com/courtroom .
