Ruling closes 2008 murder case

Michael Friedrichs

John Allen Swan, 31, of Crossett, Ark., Scott Thomas Adair, 30, of Crossett, Ark. and Michael James Friedrichs, 30, of Forest City were accused of first-degree murder in a Milford incident in April 2008.

Last week, a motion was filed at the Dickinson County Courthouse to dismiss the charges against Friedrichs. The judge granted the motion and the cause was dismissed.

The dismissal of Friedrichs' charges is believed to be a result of a cooperation agreement.

"Mr. Friedrichs reached an agreement with the state whereby the pending charges against him will be dismissed upon completion of the Swan and Adair cases," says a bond motion filed in December 2008 by Friedrich's Des Moines attorney Dean Stowers.

Friedrichs is the final defendant to close out court proceedings regarding the incident. Adair entered a guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter in September 2008 and was sentenced to up to 10 years with the Iowa Department of Corrections. Swan entered a guilty plea in September 2008 to willful injury of Philip Hassebroek, a friend of Begtrup, the deceased and was sentenced in February to three years probation.

The incident

On Monday, April 7, 2008 officers arrested Swan, Adair, Friedrichs, and charged them with first degree murder, a class "A" felony.

According to a complaint filed by the Milford Police Department, Swan, Adair and Friedrichs unlawfully hit the 25-year-old Matthew Begtrup repeatedly during a fight causing severe injury and bleeding to the face and head. The incident occurred at approximately 2 a.m. April 4, 2008 outside Zippers Gentleman's Club in Milford. The three were charged with willful injury the evening of the incident and posted bond.

On April 7, the Dickinson County Attorney's office filed the first-degree murder charges accusing the three of willfully and deliberately killing Begtrup with malice afore thought. Warrants were issued, and the three were arrested and rebooked into the Dickinson County Jail where they were held on $750,000 bond.

Guilty Pleas

Adair was the first defendant to enter a guilty plea, admitting to voluntary manslaughter in September 2008. In his plea, Adair admitted to delivering unjustified hits that took the life of Matthew Thomas Begtrup, 25, of Sioux Falls.

At a sentencing hearing in October, Adair displayed remorse for his actions and made a comment to the court before the sentencing was announced.

"I just wanted to say to the courts, people of this community and to his family, I never intended for anything like this to happen. Never," said Adair. "If I could say anything, it would be I'm sorry."

Following the hearing, Adair was transferred to the Iowa Department of Corrections to serve a 10-year prison sentence.

Swan entered a guilty plea to willful injury of Philip Hassebroek, a friend of Begtrup, the deceased. He was sentenced to three years probation for his role in the bar fight.

Family files lawsuit

Although the criminal proceedings for the incident have now been laid to rest, a lawsuit filed by the Estate of Matthew Begtrup demands a jury.

The estate, directed by Begtrup's mother Mary Fortin, filed a petition on Sept. 9, 2008 for negligence and intentional personal injury.

The petition names Swan, Adair and Friedrichs, along with Zippers, The Scoreboard, and Blattner Construction. The suit is requesting funds for punitive damages, medical expenses, funeral expenses, future earnings, and compensation of pain, distress and trauma.

A jury trial is currently scheduled for March 16, 2010.