Current:Home > NewsA Minnesota man whose juvenile murder sentence was commuted is found guilty on gun and drug charges -RiskRadar
A Minnesota man whose juvenile murder sentence was commuted is found guilty on gun and drug charges
View
Date:2025-04-14 07:39:56
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A judge has convicted a Minnesota man on gun and drug charges in a case that drew attention because he was sentenced to life in prison as a teen in a high-profile murder case and spent 18 years in prison before his sentence was commuted.
Hennepin County Judge Mark Kappelhoff ruled in a “stipulated evidence trial” that the evidence was sufficient to find Myon Burrell guilty of both possession of a firearm by an ineligible person and of fifth-degree drug possession. Prosecution and defense attorneys had agreed earlier to let the judge decide the case based on mutually agreed upon evidence instead of taking it to trial.
Kappelhoff noted in his ruling, dated Friday, that both sides agreed that the final resolution of the case will depend on a ruling from the Minnesota Court of Appeals on whether police in the Minneapolis suburb of Robbinsdale made a valid stop and search in August 2023 when they found a handgun and drugs in Burrell’s vehicle. The charges will be dropped if the appeals court rules that the stop was unconstitutional, as the defense argues. A sentencing date has not been set.
Burrell was convicted earlier in the 2002 death of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards, a Minneapolis girl who was hit by a stray bullet. Burrell was 16 at the time of the slaying and was sentenced to life. He maintained his innocence. The Associated Press and APM Reports in 2020 uncovered new evidence and serious flaws in that investigation, ultimately leading to the creation of an independent legal panel to review the case.
That led the state pardons board to commute Burrell’s sentence after he had spent more than half his life in prison. However, his pardon request was denied so his 2008 conviction for first-degree murder remained on his record, making it still illegal for him to have a gun.
The evidence from his arrest last year included statements from the arresting officer, who said he saw Burrell driving erratically, and that when he stopped Burrell, smoke came out of the window and that he smelled a strong odor of burnt marijuana. Burrell failed field sobriety tests to determine whether he was driving under the influence. The search turned up a handgun and pills, some of which field tested positive for methamphetamine and ecstasy.
A different judge, Peter Cahill, ruled during the pretrial proceedings that the stop and search were legal. Burrell’s attorneys had argued that the officer lacked sufficient justification to make the stop, and that smell of marijuana the officer cited was not a strong enough reason for the search, given a ruling last year from the Minnesota Supreme Court that odor alone isn’t probable cause for a search.
A separate drug charge stemming from a stop in May remains pending. Burrell has a hearing in that case Sept. 23.
veryGood! (525)
Related
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Bryce Harper wants longer deal with Phillies to go in his 40s, accepts move to first base
- Minnesota police seek motive as town grieves after 2 officers, 1 firefighter fatally shot
- Horoscopes Today, February 17, 2024
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- FDA approves a drug to treat severe food allergies, including milk, eggs and nuts
- A man in Compton was mauled to death by 1 or more of his Pitbulls
- Sacramento State's Matt Masciangelo was hit an astounding 8 times in 9 at-bats
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- Health care costs climb for retirees. See how much they need to save, even with Medicare
Ranking
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- Alexey Navalny, fierce critic of Vladimir Putin, dies in a Russian penal colony, officials say
- Alexey Navalny, fierce critic of Vladimir Putin, dies in a Russian penal colony, officials say
- See Samantha Hanratty and More Stars Pose Backstage at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Chris Brown says he was disinvited from NBA All-Star Celebrity Game due to controversies
- NCAA men's basketball tournament top 16 reveal: Purdue, UConn, Houston and Arizona lead
- Joe Manganiello Makes Caitlin O'Connor Romance Instagram Official 7 Months After Sofía Vergara Breakup
Recommendation
'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
TikTok star Oliver Mills talks getting Taylor Swift's '22' hat at Eras Tour in Melbourne
Adam Sandler Has Plenty of NSFW Jokes While Accepting People's Icon Award at 2024 People's Choice Awards
Why Francesca Farago and Jesse Sullivan Want to Have Kids Before Getting Married
Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
Astronomers find what may be the universe’s brightest object with a black hole devouring a sun a day
Abortion rights opponents and supporters seize on report that Trump privately pushes 16-week ban
Chrishell Stause Debuts Dramatic Haircut at 2024 People's Choice Awards