Koyukuk killer sentenced to 50 years

FAIRBANKS -- A Koyukuk man was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison for killing another village man and his 2-year-old son.

Norman Lolnitz, 20, pleaded no contest in June to one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder for shooting Fabian Pilot, 36, and Stephan James Pilot, 2. The plea agreement called for a sentence of no more than 60 years.

The victims were shot in their one-room home early Jan. 20. A few hours before, Lolnitz had been thrown out of the house. He returned extremely intoxicated with a rifle shouted obscenities and fired two rounds. Two adult women, including Fabian Pilot's girlfriend, the mother of the child, were also in the home.

Stephan Pilot was in his father's arms when both were shot. Lolnitz fled on a snowmachine and was arrested by Alaska State Troopers when he returned to the village at midday.

Fairbanks Superior Court Judge Richard Savell said the crime was an unprovoked attack brought about by Lolnitz's drinking.

''This is a monster, and a monster fueled by the two things of unexplained anger and uncontrolled use of alcohol,'' Savell said. ''Everyone agrees that there's no possibility of avoiding potential repeats of these acts if he ever drinks again.''

Prosecutor Jeff O'Bryant said Savell's sentence was an acknowledgment that it may be possible to rehabilitate Lolnitz.

''The sentence holds out some hope for him,'' he said.

Koyukuk is on the Yukon and Koyukuk rivers about 290 miles west of Fairbanks.