In a case that has garnered significant attention, a Minnesota man was convicted on gun and drug charges by a judge in Hennepin County. This man, Myon Burrell, had previously been sentenced to life in prison as a teenager for a high-profile murder case, spending 18 years behind bars before his sentence was commuted.
Judge Mark Kappelhoff ruled in a “stipulated evidence trial” that sufficient evidence existed to find Burrell guilty of both possessing a firearm as an ineligible person and fifth-degree drug possession. Both prosecution and defense attorneys had earlier agreed to let Kappelhoff decide the case based on mutually agreed-upon evidence, bypassing the need for a full trial.
In his ruling, dated Friday, Kappelhoff noted that the ultimate outcome of the case hinges on a decision from the Minnesota Court of Appeals. This appeals court will determine whether police officers in Robbinsdale made a lawful stop and search of Burrell’s vehicle in August 2023, during which they discovered a handgun and drugs. If the appeals court rules that the stop was unconstitutional, as argued by Burrell’s defense, the charges will be dropped. Currently, a sentencing date has not been scheduled.
Burrell’s earlier conviction involves the 2002 murder of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards, a young girl from Minneapolis who was tragically killed by a stray bullet. At the time of this crime, Burrell was 16 years old and was sentenced to life in prison, all while maintaining his innocence. In 2020, investigative reports by The Associated Press and APM revealed new evidence and significant flaws in Burrell’s original case, prompting the establishment of an independent legal panel for review.
This independent review led to the state pardons board commuting Burrell’s life sentence after he had spent more than half his life in prison. However, his pardon request was denied, and his 2008 first-degree murder conviction remains on record, making it illegal for him to possess a firearm.
The recent charges stem from an incident in August 2023. According to statements from the arresting officer, Burrell was seen driving erratically. When pulled over, the officer observed smoke coming from Burrell’s car and detected a strong smell of burnt marijuana. Burrell subsequently failed field sobriety tests for driving under the influence. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a handgun and pills that tested positive for methamphetamine and ecstasy.
During pretrial proceedings, Judge Peter Cahill had ruled that the stop and search were lawful. However, Burrell’s attorneys argued that the officer did not have sufficient grounds to justify the stop, emphasizing a recent Minnesota Supreme Court ruling which stated that the odor of marijuana alone is not probable cause for a search.
Burrell also faces a separate drug charge from a stop in May, with a hearing in that case scheduled for September 23.
