FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH - An Elk River man will be spending 18 years behind bars for committing second degree murder. Thirty-three year old Paul Welle was convicted of that and 1st degree manslaughter in September, but Thursday the second charge was vacated because it's a lesser included offense of second degree murder, which make's it legally impossible to be sentenced for.

He was found guilty of beating a 60–year–old man to death outside the Powerhouse Bar in Proctor last year.

He's credited with serving one year of his time.