Man, 23, sentenced to life in 2019 Mesabi Trail murder

HIBBING, Minn. (Northern News Now) – A Hibbing man will remain behind bars for the rest of his life after being sentenced Tuesday.

Deshon Bonnell, 23, of Hibbing, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the premeditated murder of Joshua LaValley in January 2019.

Last month, a jury found Bonnell guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and first-degree murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping.

At trial, it was proven that on January 6, 2019, Bonnell accompanied LaValley to the Mesabi Trail and shot him twice in the face, resulting in LaValley's death.

In 2019, Bonnell pleaded guilty to first-degree murder while committing or attempting to commit robbery.

He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of release after 30 years at that time, during which Bonnell later appealed this decision.

The Minnesota Supreme Court sent the case back to district court in December 2022 after finding Bonnell's plea was inaccurate.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Mr. LaValley, whose life was cut short because of this monstrous act,” said County Attorney Kim Maki. “While no legal consequences can undo the loss, Mr. Bonnell's mandatory life sentence without the possibility of release demonstrates that such a heinous act will not be tolerated by our community.

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