Myon Burrell, a Minnesota man whose life sentence for a high-profile juvenile murder case was commuted, has been found guilty on gun and drug charges. The verdict was handed down by Hennepin County Judge Mark Kappelhoff in a case that has garnered widespread attention due to Burrell’s past conviction and subsequent commutation.
Judge Finds Sufficient Evidence in Gun and Drug Case
Judge Kappelhoff found Burrell guilty of possessing a firearm as an ineligible person and fifth-degree drug possession. The decision was made in a “stipulated evidence trial,” where both prosecution and defense agreed to let the judge decide the case based on the evidence presented rather than proceeding to a full trial.
The case’s final outcome, however, hinges on an appeal to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, which will determine whether the police stop and search in Robbinsdale, a Minneapolis suburb, were constitutional. If the court rules the stop was unlawful, the charges against Burrell will be dropped. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
Background: Burrell’s Juvenile Life Sentence
Burrell’s legal troubles began in 2002 when he was convicted of the murder of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards, who was tragically killed by a stray bullet in Minneapolis. At just 16 years old, Burrell was sentenced to life in prison. Throughout his incarceration, he maintained his innocence.
In 2020, investigative reports by the Associated Press and APM Reports uncovered new evidence and highlighted significant flaws in the original investigation. These findings led to the formation of an independent legal panel to review Burrell’s case. The review ultimately prompted the state pardons board to commute his life sentence after Burrell had served 18 years. However, his request for a full pardon was denied, meaning his 2008 first-degree murder conviction remains on his record, and he is legally barred from possessing a firearm.
Details of the Arrest and Legal Arguments
Burrell’s recent legal troubles stem from an August 2023 arrest in Robbinsdale, where police stopped his vehicle after observing erratic driving. According to the arresting officer’s testimony, smoke was seen emanating from Burrell’s car, and there was a strong odor of burnt marijuana. Burrell subsequently failed field sobriety tests, leading to a search of his vehicle that uncovered a handgun and pills, some of which tested positive for methamphetamine and ecstasy.
During pretrial proceedings, Judge Peter Cahill ruled that the stop and search were lawful. Burrell’s defense team, however, argued that the officer lacked sufficient grounds for the stop and that the smell of marijuana alone was not enough to justify the search. They cited a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling that odor alone does not constitute probable cause for a search.
