Hot Springs man sentenced to 80 years for homicide

Aaron Eugene McLaughlin appeared before Judge John W. Larson on August 30 for sentencing. McLaughlin in June was found guilty of deliberate homicide by a jury in the October 2020 death of his roommate, Raymond Wachlin. Judge Larson handed down a sentence of 80 years in the Montana State Prison, with no time suspended and credit for 693 days time served.

McLaughlin killed his roommate in October 2020 by blunt force trauma that caused a massive brain hemorrhage. McLaughlin called 911 after the assault and said he beat the victim, Raymond R. Wachlin, after Wachlin broke through his door. He also reportedly laughed about the incident when describing the scenario to the officer transporting him to the Sanders County Detention Center.

“Another dangerous criminal is behind bars thanks to our hard-working Department of Justice prosecutors and investigators and law enforcement partners. We must continue to send the message to criminals that Montana will not tolerate illegal behavior,” Attorney General Austin Knudsen said.

Montana Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys Dan Guzynski and Stephanie Robles prosecuted the case at the request of the Sanders County Attorney’s Office. DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation and Hot Springs Police Department investigated the case.