Campground Killer Sentenced

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A deadly accident in a Lake Metigoshe campground last summer has resulted in 15 years of prison time for the driver.

Juan Acosta of Newburg was drunk while driving a stolen pickup truck on July 8th, speeding through Hahn's Bay Campground, north of Bottineau.

He lost control and plowed through a family's campsite, killing 5-year-old Alaries Ruiz and his 9-year-old brother Cyris while they slept in a tent.

Acosta changed his "not guilty" plea to "guilty," leading to the sentencing on two counts of manslaughter, two counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Northeast District Judge Michael Sturdevant sentenced Acosta to ten years in prison on one of the manslaughter counts, and five years in prison on one of the reckless endangerment charges, with those terms being served consecutively.

In addition to the two deaths at the campground in July, another child and the boys' father were injured.

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