A Duluth man admitted Wednesday that he left the scene of an accident where he hit and killed a University of Minnesota Duluth student crossing Interstate 35 near Canal Park last year.
Robert Donald Lheureux, 26, pleaded guilty to hit and run in the Feb. 12, 2006, accident that killed 23-year-old Joseph Hartmann, a fifth-year UMD student from Hamburg, Minn.
St. Louis County prosecutor Mark Rubin told 6th Judicial District Judge Mark Munger that the plea agreement was made at the request of the victim's family, who wanted the case resolved. The Hartmanns also wanted Lheureux to serve some prison time as a consequence of his action, Rubin told the court.
As part of the plea agreement, a second charge Lheureux faced -- of being a felon in possession of a firearm -- was dismissed. The crime to which he pleaded guilty is usually punished by probation. Lheureux agreed to serve a two-year prison term in exchange for having the second charge dismissed.
Munger ordered an investigation of the defendant's background and scheduled sentencing for Nov. 13.
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Court records indicate that Lheureux's blood-alcohol content was half the 0.08 percent legal limit to drive when measured about two hours after the accident. No drugs were found in his system. The victim's autopsy report revealed a blood-alcohol content of more than double the legal limit to drive.
According to the criminal complaint, Lheureux told a Minnesota State Patrol trooper he had been drinking alcohol at a pool hall before the accident. He said he thought he hit a deer while driving. He said he drove home and went to bed after having two beers.
The accident occurred on I-35 just north of Fifth Avenue West shortly after 2 a.m. Shoe tracks left by the victim made it appear he was attempting to cross the interstate from the vicinity of Canal Park.
Investigating troopers found pieces from a front bumper cover at the scene. A trooper found a gray Pontiac Grand Am parked at Lheureux's apartment at 1720 E. Fourth St. about 4 a.m. There was damage to the right front of the vehicle. The windshield was cracked and pushed inward. Blood, bone fragments and hair were found. A jacket appeared to be stuck in a hole in the windshield.
Two troopers knocked on the door and Lheureux answered. A trooper found a loaded .40-caliber handgun and ammunition under a couch cushion in the apartment.
The defendant identified the damaged car as his. Lheureux has several convictions from 2000 through 2003 for driving-related offenses and is a convicted felon, making it illegal for him to possess a firearm.
Theresa and Elmer Hartman, the victim's parents, operate a dairy farm in Hamburg, about 50 miles west of Minneapolis. They couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday. In an earlier interview, Theresa Hartman said that her son was "easygoing, and if you asked for help he was there.''
MARK STODGHILL covers public safety and courts. He can be reached weekdays at (218) 723-5333 or by e-mail at mstodghill@duluthnews.com .
