2 indicted in St. Cloud man’s murder

A grand jury has indicted two people in connection to the death of a St. Cloud man in May.

Paul Erving Coleman and Alphonso Dale Cotto have been indicted for the murder of Michael Batsche.

The Stearns County Attorney’s Office says Coleman is charged with aiding and abetting both first-degree and second-degree murder; Cotto is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree intentional murder, aiding and abetting second-degree murder and felon in possession of a gun.

Both were previously charged in Stearns County District Court, too, and remain in jail.

St. Cloud police found Batsche near a home in the 1200 block of 10th Avenue South on the night of May 24. Life-saving efforts were attempted but he later died.

Home security system video showed Coleman and Cotto apparently with a gun that night, and other surveillance footage showed Coleman fire at least one shot toward Batsche’s home, according to a criminal complaint. It also states messages indicate the shooting may have been related to Cotto wanting a gun and money back from Batsche.

Coleman’s bail is set at $3 million without conditions or $2 million with conditions, and his next court hearing is set for Aug. 12. Cotto’s bail is set at $4 million without conditions and $2 million with conditions, and his next hearing hasn’t yet been scheduled.