Minnesota Felony Murder Reform Triggers Resentencing for Duluth Man in 2017 Student Homicide

The 2017 murder case of William Grahek is being revisited as Noah King’s life sentence is vacated under Minnesota's new accomplice liability standards.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 9:13 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Duluth News Tribune

The Impact of the Felony Murder Reform Act

A significant shift in Minnesota's legal landscape is altering the sentences of individuals convicted of murder despite not being the primary assailant. The 2023 Felony Murder Reform Act, passed by the Minnesota Legislature, amended the state’s aiding and abetting laws to ensure that punishments are proportionate to a defendant's actual role in a crime. Under the new standard, a defendant can only be convicted of first-degree murder if they intended to cause death or were a "major participant" who acted with extreme indifference to human life. Because the law was made retroactive, inmates across the state have been petitioning for the vacation of their convictions.

Resentencing in the William Grahek Case

Noah Anthony Charles King, 27, was originally sentenced to life in prison for the 2017 shooting death of UMD student William Grahek during an attempted drug robbery. While King was present and armed with a wrench, testimony indicated that a co-defendant fired the fatal shots. 6th District Chief Judge Leslie Beiers recently vacated King's top conviction, ruling that while he intended to participate in an armed burglary, there was no evidence he intended for Grahek to die. King is scheduled for resentencing on Monday for a lesser charge of aiding and abetting intentional second-degree murder, which carries a presumptive sentence of approximately 25 years.

Prosecutorial Frustration and Victim Impact

The St. Louis County Attorney's Office has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the retroactive application of the law. Deputy County Attorney Jon Holets noted that the underlying facts of these cases remain unchanged, yet the new legislation forces families to relive traumatic events and face renewed uncertainty. Prosecutors argue that the original sentences reflected the "mutual intent" of the groups to use lethal force during their crimes. In the Grahek case, the office plans to seek the maximum allowable sentence under the new guidelines, while acknowledging that appeals against the judge's ruling are unlikely to succeed.