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Madeleine Baran
Hastings, Minn.

Man sentenced in fatal veterans home beating

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A 45-year-old man who had been living at the Hastings Veterans home was sentenced Monday for the fatal beating of a fellow resident.

Judge Edward Lynch sentenced Randall Sears to 36.6 years in prison for the brutal killing of 54-year-old Richard Jackson in August 2008.

Jackson died from extensive head injuries three weeks after the attack. Witnesses reported that Sears had repeatedly stomped on Jackson's head.

Sears was convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree assault on Sept. 16.

"This was an extremely violent attack which claimed an innocent life and clearly warranted the upward departure from Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines which was imposed today," said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom in a statement released Monday.