By Patrick Tepoorten

The saga that started with the early morning killing of Martin Roy Carlson, 25, of Center City, on July 22, 2006, ostensibly ended this Tuesday (April 22) with the sentencing of Craig Steven Fleming, 48, of Lindstrom. Fleming was sentenced by 10th district Court Judge Douglas G. Swenson to 30 years, seven months in a correctional facility.

Fleming was found guilty of second degree murder by a jury on Feb. 14. He was found not guilty of the charge of first degree premeditated murder and two charges of second degree assault, also on that day.

At Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, attorneys for the state and the defense argued for the maximum and minimum penalties respectively, victim impact statements were read into the record, and Fleming spoke for the first time on the record.

Prosecutor Fred Fink characterized Fleming as someone who showed no remorse during the pre-sentencing investigation, noting that Fleming seemed proud of his actions and even re-enacted his crime for investigators. “I find that very troubling and so should the court,” he said, and reminded the court of the “execution style” nature of the killing, against a helpless victim, before recommending imposition of the 30-year, seven-month sentence.

Attorney for the defense Gregory J. Rebeau called Fink’s characterization of Fleming disingenuous, adding, “it has been our position from day one that this has been a tragedy, for both families and the community.”

He went on to place significant blame for the crime on methamphetamine. “We have seen what happens under the scourge of meth. But for meth we wouldn’t be here today.”

Rebeau referred to Fleming as someone who “doesn’t radiate remorse” due to a history of tragedies in his life.

Rebeau said Fleming does feel remorse, but again reminded the court that it was a meth-fueled situation before concluding, “It serves no purpose to further exacerbate the situation by making Mr. Fleming the poster child for meth problems in the community. It is something the community needs to address.”

Fleming also had the opportunity to address the court. He called the murder a “tragic circumstance,” and offered his condolences to Carlson’s family, but said his family was also victimized by the situation.

He said he had “mixed emotions” about Fink, adding it was “quite a show” watching him “build a case on lies.” Fleming said witnesses Jason Slattengren and Tory Mogensen “sat on the stand and lied, thinking they were avenging their friend. There is nothing noble about that. Be a man and tell the truth.”

Fleming characterized his actions that night as self-defense and said a gun he believed was there as well as methamphetamine paraphernalia, disappeared. His final statement was to the witnesses against him. “To those of you who lied on the stand I say ‘karma.’” Things have a way of coming back at you.”

Impact statements were read into the record by family and friends of both Carlson and Fleming. Carlson’s mother Jennifer Berry’s letter was read by a victim/witness coordinator, and in it, Berry called Fleming a “coward” and a “callous monster” who showed no remorse or sorrow. “Give this unrepentant man the maximum,” her letter read.

Sister of the defendant, Denise Fleming, insisted her brother was innocent and acted in self-defense. Under the auspices of revealing the truth about that night, she said there were six or seven methamphetamine pipes at the Mogensen residence the night of the murder, and that Craig Fleming witnessed a black handle sticking out of Carlson’s shorts which he believed was a gun.

She said that, as a discussion got more heated, Carlson reached for that gun. That, she stated, was when her brother pulled his firearm and approached Carlson. She said Craig only fired when he believed Carlson made a move to draw that firearm. She accused eye-witnesses for the prosecution of removing items from the scene, including methamphetamine paraphernalia, and the firearm carried by Carlson, which she believes they threw in the nearby lake.

Denise Fleming called Carlson the “drug dealer of Chisago County,” and said it was common knowledge that he sold methamphetamine laced with heroin. She asked rhetorically how many people became addicted to drugs because of Carlson, and how many lives were ruined, adding “the community has no feelings of sympathy for Marty.”

Fleming’s girlfriend Lona Linc read a letter from her and Fleming’s daughter into the record as well. The daughter called her father a “good man” who was only defending himself and her mother. She wrote, “If Marty wasn’t such an addict, my dad would be home with me today.”

Fink responded to statements by Fleming supporters by reminding the court that he had been found guilty of murder. “There was no self-defense, that is a fact,” he said, and said statements by Fleming and supporters “further show a lack of remorse on behalf of the defendant.”

Swenson agreed with Fink that a verdict had been rendered and said “we are not going to re-try this case today,” before proceeding to impose sentence. Fleming received credit for the 642 days he has served and will become eligible for release after 20 years and four months. Upon release Fleming would serve another 10 years and two months under the supervision of the department of corrections. He was also ordered to pay $8,388 in restitution and further restitution for any counseling required by the Carlson’s son as a result of the crime.

Swenson concluded by saying he followed the recommendations put forth by the pre-sentencing investigation and added that Fleming “chose to intentionally kill a person when you could have left the room. We are not here because of Martin Carlson’s actions. We are here because of your actions.”

Before court adjourned, Rebeau requested a trial transcript for use in a possible appeals process.