MINNEAPOLIS — A Hennepin County judge has convicted a Minnesota man, Myon Burrell, on gun and drug charges. This case has garnered significant attention due to Burrell’s past, having been sentenced to life in prison as a teenager for a high-profile murder, serving 18 years before his sentence was commuted.
Judge Mark Kappelhoff presided over a “stipulated evidence trial,” where both the prosecution and the defense agreed to allow the judge to determine the verdict based on mutually accepted evidence. The ruling established Burrell’s guilt for possession of a firearm by an ineligible person and fifth-degree drug possession.
The judge’s ruling, issued on Friday, noted that the outcome of Burrell’s case hinges on a decision from the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The appeals court will assess whether police conducted a valid stop and search in Robbinsdale in August 2023, where a handgun and drugs were discovered in Burrell’s vehicle. If the court deems the stop unconstitutional, the charges against Burrell may be dismissed. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
Previously, Burrell was convicted in the 2002 shooting death of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards in Minneapolis. He was 16 at the time and has always maintained his innocence. Recent investigations uncovered evidence suggesting significant flaws in the original case, prompting the establishment of an independent legal panel to review the conviction.
Following this review, the state pardons board commuted Burrell’s sentence, allowing him to leave prison after spending more than half of his life incarcerated. However, his request for a pardon was denied, meaning his 2008 first-degree murder conviction remains on record, barring him from legally possessing a firearm.
The evidence leading to his current arrest included testimony from the arresting officer, who reported erratic driving and noted a strong odor of burnt marijuana from Burrell’s vehicle. Following the traffic stop, officers discovered a handgun and pills, some testing positive for methamphetamine and ecstasy.
In earlier pretrial proceedings, Judge Peter Cahill ruled that the stop and search were lawful. Burrell’s attorneys have contended that the officer lacked sufficient justification for the stop, arguing that the smell of marijuana alone does not constitute probable cause for a search under recent Minnesota Supreme Court rulings.
Additionally, Burrell faces a pending drug charge related to a separate incident from May, with a hearing scheduled for September 23.
