Kenai man sentenced to 4 years prison for manslaughter

A Kenai man has been sentenced to four years in prison for dealing drugs that led to the death of a Soldotna-area man in 2015.

Richard Paul Morrison, 38, received a sentence of four years for manslaughter by controlled substance in Kenai Superior Court during a Thursday hearing. He will serve the sentence consecutively to the 63 months he received for a federal court conviction in September related to dealing methamphetmines and heroin.

Morrison was initially arrested in January 2016 on the drug charges after a multi-agency investigation. The state case was a separate incident, for which he was arrested and charged in June 2016. The charges stated that Soldotna resident Jeremy Vandever had died of a drug overdose in December 2015, directly related to methadone Morrison gave him.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

As part of a plea deal in relation to the federal charges, Morrison agreed to plead guilty to the manslaughter charge and avoid a trial. Superior Court Judge Anna Moran handed down the sentence Thursday, a week after Morrison formally changed his plea.

Morrison, who attended the hearing telephonically from the Anchorage Jail, did not make any statements during the sentencing.

Morrison’s attorney from the public defender’s office, Joe Montague, said at the hearing Morrison and Vandever were friends and that he is “extremely remorseful” about Vandever’s death. Morrison completed most of a drug rehabilitation program before he was arrested in June, he said.

“(Drug abuse) is one of the things the community is dealing with on a community-wide basis,” he said.

During the hearing, the Vandever’s widow said she hoped Morrison could take this opportunity to change. Moran read a letter from Morrison’s substance abuse counselor, saying he had behaved well in rehabilitation and completed the majority of his program. She said she hoped he would take this opportunity to turn his life around.

“Chemical and substance abuse is of epidemic proportions here on the Kenai,” she said. “….This is one of the consequences of substance abuse — they don’t know what they’re getting, what they’re taking … (here) we have an incredibly tragic circumstance between two friends.”

Morrison received four years in prison and is eligible for jail time credit for the time he spent in rehabilitation.

Reach Elizabeth Earl at elizabeth.earl@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon fishing on Kasilof closes Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Un’a, a female sea otter pup who was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2025, plays with an enrichment toy at the center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list.

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in