Defendant in six-year court trial pleads guilty

By KAALTV

Antonio Beasley / MN Department of Corrections

(ABC 6 News) – A Bayport man pleaded guilty in a six-year-old overdose case — meaning the victim’s family will finally see an end to the case.

ABC 6 News previously reported on the length of time Antonio Beasely’s case had spent in the Olmsted County Court system after 25-year-old Michael Eide’s death in April of 2017.

Beasley pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree manslaughter Thursday, Sept. 7.

Beasley’s plea document filed Thursday, indicates that his defense will request a 108-month sentence, to be served concurrently with his current 16-year drug sentence, which he began in 2017.

The prosecution may argue for a sentence of up to 10 years, according to the plea agreement.

Beasley’s sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12.

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(ABC 6 News) – A Bayport man’s trial has been delayed once again in Olmsted County Court — making it increasingly likely that Antonio Beasely’s court case will last more than six years past the day that 25-year-old Michael Eide overdosed on heroin laced with fentanyl Beasely allegedly provided him.

Beasley’s pretrial was scheduled for March 16, 2023, with a jury trial March 27.

However, Beasley’s defense filed for another continuance March 3 — the seventh — allegedly after communicating with Eide’s family, according to court documents.

Beasley’s pretrial and jury trial have not been rescheduled.

According to court documents, Beasely is currently incarcerated at the MN Department of Corrections–Stillwater.