by April Scheinoha
Reporter
Four children sat in court Tuesday, Feb. 18, watching as a Thief River Falls man was sentenced for causing their mom’s fatal drug overdose by culpable negligence.
Isaac Victor Kalinoski, 35, was sentenced for an amended felony charge of second degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 81 months in prison with credit for 277 days served. Kalinoski is also banned from using or possessing firearms for his lifetime unless his civil rights have been restored. He was ordered to provide a DNA sample. Kalinoski was also ordered to pay $210 in fees and fines. The right to restitution has been reserved with the state having 30 days to file a certificate. The defense will then have 60 days to object if it so chooses.
As part of a plea agreement, a felony charge of third degree controlled substance crime was dismissed.
Kalinoski was initially charged with felony third degree murder, but that charge was later amended to the second degree manslaughter charge.
Kalinoski sold a fentanyl pill to Czapiewski on Nov. 28, 2023, knowing there was a chance the pill could cause death or great bodily harm to Czapiewski, 28. Two men found an unresponsive Czapiewski in her apartment that afternoon. Her 2-year-old daughter was sleeping on the floor beside her.
According to the complaint, an autopsy report found Czapiewski had died from fentanyl and methamphetamine toxicity. Inside Czapiewski’s apartment, law enforcement found burnt tinfoil with residue that tested positive for fentanyl. They also found a ripped baggie containing a residue that had a presumptive positive result for meth.
Prior to pronouncing Kalinoski’s sentence, Judge Tamara Yon heard four victim impact statements from Czapiewski’s parents and two of her sisters.
“The day I had to bury my daughter was the hardest thing I had to do in my life,” said Czapiewski’s dad, Paul.
Holidays are no longer festive after his daughter’s death. For his daughter’s birthday, Paul Czapiewski said they can only place flowers in a vase on her headstone.
Czapiewski recalled that his first-born daughter had a heart of gold and was always willing to help family and friends in their times of need. He referred to her as a gentle and unique person who was proud of her kids. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there to help and protect her from this,” Czapiewski said.
Czapiewski ended his victim impact statement saying, “I love you, Hailey Ann” and noting that her family and friends have received a life sentence.
Writing her victim impact statement brought Mikayla Czapiewski’s grief about losing her sister back to the surface. She said she hoped Kalinoski healed and made changes for his kids. Czapiewski said her sister tried many times to make changes for herself and her kids.
Hailey Czapiewski’s mom, Michelle Lussier, now serves as a full-time parent to her grandchildren. She sees her daughter’s heart shining through the kids. “Not a day goes by that my grandbabies don’t ask about their mom,” Lussier wrote in her victim impact statement.
Lussier wrote that Kalinoski needed to be held accountable and sent to prison for his actions. She hoped his family never has to feel the grief her family has suffered.
Assistant County Attorney Kristin Hanson read aloud Lussier’s statement to Yon. She also read aloud a victim impact statement from Czapiewski’s sister Lexie Burkholder. Burkholder wrote that her sister held a significant place in her life. They lived together for a substantial period of time with Czapiewski playing a significant role in raising Burkholder’s oldest daughter, now 16.
Burkholder recalled Czapiewski admitting she had relapsed while the two of them were traveling to their mom’s home for Thanksgiving, days before Czapiewski’s death. Czapiewski realized she needed inpatient treatment and thought a yearlong inpatient treatment program would be appropriate. She never made it to such a facility.
Burkholder wrote that Kalinoski was an active participant in drug distribution who made a deliberate choice to do so. She noted that, despite the repercussions, Kalinoski resumed those activities after bailing out of jail. Burkholder wrote that Kalinoski lacked compassion and a regard for human life as well as a lack of knowledge regarding the repercussions for his own children.
After hearing the victim impact statements, Yon heard sentencing arguments from both attorneys. Hanson sought 81 months in prison, noting that Kalinoski had accrued additional charges while out on bond in this case. She said there was a lack of remorse seen so far and in social media posts. The latter posts referred to him being famous and were made while he was on furlough for his grandmother’s funeral.
Kalinoski’s attorney, Eric Gudmundson, sought a sentence of 68 or 72 months in prison. He said such a sentence would give Kalinoski a chance of redemption.
Gudmundson further noted that Kalinoski isn’t an emotive individual and he doesn’t say a lot. He indicated Kalinoski is an addict who had been using drugs on a daily basis for four to five years. In his experience working in the Public Defender’s Office, Gudmundson noted that people may access drugs and provide drugs to others for their own gain and to use the drugs themselves.
Addicts run the risk every day that they may be a victim and not a defendant, Gudmundson said. As such, he referred to Kalinoski’s perceived lack of remorse as being born out of being an addict and that particular mindset.
Gudmundson said his client was ready to serve time. He added Kalinoski is at a crossroads and will hopefully make a change.
Yon then provided Kalinoski an opportunity to speak. Kalinoski voiced his regret for his actions. He noted nothing could be done to bring Czapiewski back and he would change places with her if he could. Kalinoski said he ruined a caring, amazing person forever.
After hearing from everyone, Yon pronounced her sentence, which followed the state sentencing guidelines. In reference to Kalinoski’s perceived lack of remorse, she noted no one could read others’ minds. Yon noted Kalinoski’s actions posed a public safety risk and incredibly affected Czapiewski’s family and his own family. She also referred to Kalinoski’s actions while out on bond, saying it was significant how high his addiction is.
Sentences pronounced for other offenses
Kalinoski was also sentenced for unrelated, separate felony charges of second degree driving while impaired – refusal to submit to a chemical test and fifth degree controlled substance crime – previous conviction. The former charge stemmed from a traffic stop conducted on the same day as Czapiewski’s death. For that charge, Kalinoski was sentenced to 364 days in jail to be served concurrently with the sentence for manslaughter. He was given credit for 278 days in jail. Kalinoski was also ordered to pay $210 in fees and fines.
The latter charge stemmed from a June 11, 2024, incident when Kalinoski possessed methamphetamine while out on bond for the manslaughter case. For that case, he was sentenced to 17 months in prison to be served concurrently with the sentence for manslaughter. Kalinoski was given credit for 252 days served. Kalinoski was ordered to not use or possess firearms for his lifetime unless his civil rights have been restored. Kalinoski was ordered to provide a DNA sample. He was ordered to pay $210 in fees and fines.
In the latter case, Yon dismissed a misdemeanor charge of obstructing the legal process, a misdemeanor charge of fleeing an officer by means other than a motor vehicle, and another felony charge of fifth degree controlled substance crime – previous conviction.