One year after killing his nephew in a high-speed drunken-driving crash, an Eden Prairie man was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday for criminal vehicular homicide.

Randoll G. Sloan, 48, pleaded guilty May 27 to three counts of criminal vehicular homicide in the death of 23-year-old Kyle Boline, a Marine who had recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan.

At about 8 p.m. on Aug. 1, 2013, Sloan was speeding on Eden Prairie Road near Kurtz Lane, with Boline in the passenger seat of his Corvette. As he failed to round a curve, Sloan hit a utility pole and the car flipped, throwing both men. Boline died shortly after at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Tests showed Sloan's blood alcohol level was 0.19 percent— more than twice the legal limit. A witness said both men appeared intoxicated earlier in the night, when they left Gold Nugget Tavern and Grille in Minnetonka. Two witnesses there said they saw Sloan and Boline get into the Corvette, and confirmed that Sloan was driving.

Sloan, who suffered a broken leg and head injuries in the crash, said he didn't remember the incident.

In arguing that Sloan should serve time in prison, Assistant County Attorney Deborah Russell pointed out that he had initially attempted to blame the victim: Until Sloan's scheduled trial date, the defense tried to prove that it was Boline, not Sloan, who had been driving.

Sloan's attorney, who said the defense hired an expert to determine who was driving because Sloan couldn't recall the incident, asked for a more lenient sentence of one year in jail and probation.

Sloan has previous convictions, including speeding and drunken driving.

Judge Fred Karasov took these into consideration when determining the sentence. In addition to the prison time, Sloan is being fined $6,000.

"[Sloan] knew alcohol was a huge problem to him," he said. "I don't think we are talking about an isolated issue here."

Emma Nelson • 612-673-4509