NEWTON – A Hudson man who was arrested earlier this year during a death investigation was sentenced this week.

47-year-old Thomas Patrick Olofson was one of four men accused of attempting to conceal the death of 66-year-old Tomie Lee Misner Jr. of Des Moines after an investigation into Misner’s death in June. 

According to court records, Olofson and 53-year-old Jeffery Allen Stevens of Newton had been under police surveillance as part of a drug investigation when Olofson attempted to flee from a traffic stop on June 9, resulting in a high-speed chase in which he and a female passenger allegedly threw methamphetamine out of their vehicle and attempted to destroy other evidence. The chase came to an end when Olofson drove the wrong way down I-80 and crashed his vehicle into a fence.

Olofson reportedly told authorities about a body in Stevens’ home after being taken into custody. The body of Tomie Lee Misner Jr. was later found in the basement of Stevens’ home.

Olofson was sentenced for his role in this incident on Monday to a 2-year prison sentence and an $855 fine after pleading guilty to obstructing prosecution, an aggravated misdemeanor. As part of the plea agreement, a felony charge of abuse of a corpse was dismissed.

Jeffery Allen Stevens remains in custody for abuse of a corpse and obstructing prosecution and has a court appearance scheduled for November 3. 36-year-old Alysha Buell of Des Moines also has a court appearance on November 3 for her role in this incident, though she is currently free after posting bond. 63-year-old Scott Ray Mabrier of Des Moines was given a 10-year prison sentence for abuse of a corpse in August for his role in the incident.