Due to an alleged bond violation, a Casper man convicted of manslaughter could serve more time in prison that laid out in a plea agreement he made in April.

Prosecutors have filed notice they intend to enforce the "cold plea provision" of the deal they made with Michael Lott, 22, who admitted to striking Bruce Tucker during an October party at a Natrona County business. Tucker was found dead the next day of a brain injury.

Lott is set to be sentenced today in Natrona County District Court.

The cold plea provision requires defendants free on bond to avoid violating laws or terms of their bond from the time they enter a plea agreement until sentencing. If they do commit a violation, a judge can decide he is no longer bound by the sentencing agreement in the plea deal.

In Lott's case, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in exchange for an agreement from prosecutors that they would seek a sentence of no more than 17 to 20 years in prison. If the court agrees with prosecutors, the judge could give him the maximum penalty under the law: an 18- to 20-year prison sentence.

Prosecutors assert Lott, who's been free on bond for much of his case, tested positive for alcohol in June, according to papers filed last month in district court. It was the only test that came back positive for alcohol.

Lott was not allowed to drink alcohol as a condition of his bond.

The judge will likely decide the issue during today's sentencing, said Assistant District Attorney Dan Itzen.

Lott's attorney, Don Fuller, declined comment Thursday.

The case against Lott stems from an Oct. 27 party at Monster Fabrication, where Lott worked. Both Tucker and Lott attended the party.

At one point, Tucker and a friend began aggressively dancing in a mosh pit, where participants slam into one another while dancing.

Authorities say the owner of the business, who is Lott's brother-in-law, tried to settle Tucker down and eventually restrained him on the ground. Before Tucker got back to his feet, Lott kicked him in the head multiple times.

Tucker went home after the altercation and complained about nausea and his head hurting. His girlfriend found his body the next day. The coroner's office later determined his jaw had been broken in three places and he had a four- by six-inch blood clot under his skull.

At an earlier court hearing, Fuller said characterized the incident as a large fight and said Tucker got kicked out of the party because he was acting violently on the dance floor.

Reach crime reporter Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.