By Joe Bachman

A 57-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man was sentenced to 15 years for the second degree reckless homicide of his brother.

In 2014, Ronald Horan was involved in a heated argument with his brother, Tracey Horan, when he slammed the door on him, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs. The fall would break Tracey’s neck, killing him.

On Sept. 15, a jury found Horan guilty of unintentionally ending the life of his brother.

“Tracey Horan is dead due to this person’s criminally reckless conduct,” said District Attorney Craig Lambert in his statement to Wood County Circuit Court Judge Todd Wolf. “This defendant can’t be trusted to not hurt someone else.”

Ronald Horan has been convicted of multiple counts of battery and sexual assault since 1984. He is currently serving year two of a seven year sentence for a prior conviction of third degree sexual assault.

The final sentence of 15 years includes seven years imprisonment and eight years extended supervision.

Attorney Gary Kryshak pleaded with the judge to make Horan’s sentence concurrent with the time the defendant is already serving. According to Judge Wolf, due to Horan’s history of violent behavior and inability to stay sober while on probation, the sentence handed out will not be concurrent, and will begin once Horan finishes out his current sentence.

Horan is currently serving jail time at Oshkosh Correctional Institute.