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Man Pleads Guilty To Murder In St. Cloud Fatal Chase

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (WCCO) – A 23-year-old man accused of fleeing police and causing a fatal accident almost a year ago pleaded guilty to criminal charges on Thursday in Stearns County Court.

Timothy Gilles was charged in May 2011 with two counts of third-degree murder and one count of fleeing police in a motor vehicle and causing substantial bodily harm.

Gilles is accused of speeding away from police and crashing into a vehicle during a traffic stop on April 15, 2011. The crash killed 30-year-old Timothy Casanova of Starbuck. His passenger, 22-year-old Megan Thomsen of Glenwood, was pregnant and gave birth after the crash to a baby that died three days after his emergency delivery.

Gilles entered a straight plea on Thursday, meaning there was no plea agreement in the case.

He now awaits a sentencing and could face up to 36 years in prison.

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