Minot Man Sentenced for Manslaughter, Tampering

Johnathan DeCoteau pleaded guilty to charges in fatal shooting of Dorian Thomas

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Minot, North Dakota man was sentenced to 7 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter and tampering charges related to the fatal shooting of Dorian Thomas. Investigators say DeCoteau was manipulating a firearm when it went off, killing Thomas.

Why it matters

The case highlights ongoing concerns about gun violence and the need for responsible firearm handling, as well as the challenges in the criminal justice system in balancing plea agreements with the desires of victims' families for harsher sentences.

The details

Johnathan DeCoteau was sentenced to 20 years on the manslaughter charge, but will only have to serve 5 of those years. The judge said he wished he could do more but had to go with the plea agreement decided by the state. Dorian Thomas' father spoke at the sentencing, saying "You killed my son. My son is gone forever. He's never coming back."

  • On February 12, 2026, DeCoteau was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

The players

Johnathan DeCoteau

A Minot, North Dakota man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and tampering charges related to the fatal shooting of Dorian Thomas.

Dorian Thomas

The victim who was killed when DeCoteau's firearm went off while he was manipulating it.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You killed my son. My son is gone forever. He's never coming back.”

— Dorian Thomas' father

What’s next

The judge's decision to go with the plea agreement has faced some criticism from the victim's family, who felt a harsher sentence was warranted.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing plea bargains with the desires of victims' families for more severe punishments, as well as the need for greater education and responsibility around firearm handling to prevent such tragic incidents.