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Duluth Murder Case Sees Reduced Sentence After Minnesota Law Change
Felony Murder Reform Act leads to re-sentencing and shifting legal landscape
Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:20am
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A recent wave of re-sentencings across Minnesota is highlighting a significant shift in how the state views accomplice liability in murder cases. Driven by the 2023 Felony Murder Reform Act, individuals previously convicted under older, stricter laws are now seeing their sentences reduced, sparking both relief for defendants and frustration for victims' families.
Why it matters
The retroactive application of the Felony Murder Reform Act has allowed defendants to petition the courts for re-examination under the new standard, leading to reduced sentences for some. This has caused renewed pain for victims' families, who must relive traumatic events and endure uncertainty, even when the underlying facts of the crime remain unchanged.
The details
For decades, Minnesota law held accomplices to the same degree of responsibility as the person who directly committed a murder during the commission of another felony. The 2023 reform changed that, requiring a defendant to intend to cause the victim's death or be a 'major participant' in the crime to receive the most severe penalties. Noah Anthony Charles King, convicted in the 2017 murder of University of Minnesota Duluth student William Grahek, is a prime example - he is now set to be re-sentenced on a lesser charge after a judge determined there was no evidence he intended for Grahek to die.
- In 2017, Noah Anthony Charles King was convicted of the murder of University of Minnesota Duluth student William Grahek.
- The 2023 Felony Murder Reform Act changed the rules for holding accomplices responsible for murder in Minnesota.
- King is now set to be re-sentenced on a lesser charge after a judge's determination under the new law.
The players
Noah Anthony Charles King
A defendant convicted in the 2017 murder of University of Minnesota Duluth student William Grahek, who is now set to be re-sentenced on a lesser charge after a judge's determination under the new Felony Murder Reform Act.
William Grahek
A University of Minnesota Duluth student who was murdered in 2017.
What they’re saying
“The retroactive nature of the law forces families to relive traumatic events and endure renewed uncertainty, even when the underlying facts of the crime remain unchanged.”
— Jon Holets, St. Louis County Deputy Attorney
What’s next
Judges will continue to re-evaluate other long-settled cases impacted by the Felony Murder Reform Act, with the full impact of the law becoming increasingly clear as more defendants petition for re-sentencing.
The takeaway
The Felony Murder Reform Act has fundamentally changed the legal landscape for accomplices in Minnesota, leading to reduced sentences in some cases but also causing renewed pain for victims' families. This evolving situation underscores the ongoing debate about justice, accountability, and the appropriate level of punishment for those involved in tragic crimes.
