A 45-year-old man from Minnesota, Ryan John Whisler, has been sentenced to seven years of probation for pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter and fifth-degree assault. The tragic incident occurred on April 17, 2021, during a disagreement over social distancing at a bar in St. Paul.
As part of his probation, Whisler is required to spend a year at the Ramsey County Workhouse, attend two years of therapy, complete an anger management program, participate in an alcohol abuse program, abstain from alcohol consumption during probation, and volunteer weekly for two years either at a restorative justice program or a government agency.
It is crucial for Whisler to adhere to all the terms of his probation, as any violations could potentially lead to a prison sentence of up to seven years. The altercation resulted in the tragic death of 48-year-old Mike Ryan, who served as the coach for the Jefferson High School girls’ hockey team. The cause of Ryan’s death was determined to be a traumatic brain injury.