Brothers go to prison for death of man from Idaho Falls

Two brothers will each spend seven years in prison for the death of a man with ties to Idaho Falls.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming announced Thursday that Alan Brown, 61, and Vernon Lee Brown, 54, both Northern Arapaho tribal members, were sentenced in federal court Jan. 9. Alan Brown was sentenced for involuntary manslaughter and aiding and abetting, and Vernon Brown was sentenced for involuntary manslaughter.

The attorney’s office said the brothers were also sentenced to three years of supervised release following confinement and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. The amount of restitution they will have to pay has not yet been determined.

The charges against the Browns stem from an incident that occurred in May 2006 that left Tad Paul Barnson, 47, dead. Barnson was originally from Idaho Falls, but was residing in the Riverton, Wyo., at the time.

Hikers discovered his remains on the Wind River Indian Reservation in May 2013. He apparently died of blunt force and stabbing injuries.

The brothers originally pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, but the charge was lowered to involuntary manslaughter through a plea deal, The Ranger newspaper of Fremont County, Wyo., reported.