HOT SPRINGS - Shannon Fast Horse pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree manslaughter, admitting that he bludgeoned to death his former girlfriend, Julie Doncheske, in Hot Springs on July 18, 2006.

Prosecutors agreed to drop first- and second-degree murder charges against Fast Horse, 42, in exchange for his guilty plea. Fast Horse agreed to the 45-year prison sentence pronounced by 7th Circuit Judge Jeff Davis.

Fall River County State's Attorney Jim Sword said that because the plea agreement is binding, Fast Horse cannot appeal his sentence.

According to the manslaughter charge, Doncheske's death was not pre-meditated, but Fast Horse killed her in the heat of passion and in a "cruel and unusual" manner.

Asked what happened that night, Fast Horse sat silently for several minutes, head down, before reading from a written statement.

"We argued," then went outside, he said. "In a fit of anger, I hit her repeatedly on the head with a four-handled tire iron, killing her."

Fast Horse - who was on parole at the time - said he tried to kill himself but was arrested first.

"I loved Julie," Fast Horse said. "This should not have happened to her."

Assistant state Attorney General Rod Oswald said the plea deal would protect the public.

"We just don't want this man in the general public again," he said. "If he ever got out, he would be a very old man at that time."

Fast Horse will be eligible for parole in 2041, when he is in his 70s.

Although some of Doncheske's family felt the manslaughter plea downplayed the brutality of her death, Doncheske's daughter and mother were pleased with the end result.

"I'm just glad it's all over," said Doncheske's daughter, Krystal Park of Hot Springs.

Doncheske's mother, Kate Coppess of Minnesota, said she hopes her grandchildren can now begin to heal from the trauma of their mother's death.

"The children could not have withstood the trial," she said.

Park also spoke at sentencing, saying Fast Horse had committed "a horrible act of extreme selfishness."

"I've tried to forgive you, but I've had a hard time," Park said. She talked about the pain of her mother's absence at holidays and celebrations and spoke of her mother's love for painting and decorating.

"She has become an awesome angel for us all," Park said.

Park said her mother knew Fast Horse for eight or 10 years before she began dating him in 2005. After they separated, Doncheske sought a court protection order against Fast Horse on July 10, 2006, writing: "He will find me alone and unprotected and beat me until I die at his hands. Those are his words."

Fast Horse said as a young man he had no love and no happiness. "It was replaced with anger and hatred," he said. "I'm deeply sorry for what I did."

Fast Horse's plea and sentencing came a week after Sword took office. Former Fall River County State's Attorney Lance Russell, who did not seek re-election and left office Dec. 31, had handled the case since Fast Horse was arrested more 2-1/2 years ago.

In early December, Russell issued a news release saying that Fast Horse's trial had been delayed until February because the court had dragged its feet. Judge Davis said Russell himself forced the trial's postponement, first because of an appeal and then because he failed to submit proposed juror questions to the court.

Fast Horse's attorney, Tim Rensch, said he had tried repeatedly to contact Russell to discuss juror questions.

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com