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State of Minnesota v. Jeronimo Yanez
Date: 06-17-2017
Case Number: 0620373879
Judge: William H. Leary III
Court: District Court, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Plaintiff's Attorney: Jeffrey Paulsen
Defendant's Attorney: Paul Engh, Tom Kelly and Earl Gray
Description:
St. Paul, MN - Jury Finds Police Officer Not Guilty On Manslaughter Charge
The State of Minnesota charged Jeronimo Yanez with manslaughter for shooting and killing Philando Castile, age 32, during a traffic stop in 2016. Yanez stopped Castile based on having an inoperative brake light. When Yanez approached Catile's car, Castile told him that he had a gun in the car. Yanez reacted by shooting Castile five times. The shooting was captured by Castile's girlfriend, who was a passenger in the vehicle along with her daughter.
Criminal Complaint filed by the Ramsey County Attorney's Office:
The Complainant, being duly sworn, makes complaint to the above-named Court and states Ihal there is
probable cause to believe that the Defendant commillcd the foUowingonenKe(s):
COUNT 1
On or about July 6» 2016, in Ramsey County, Minnesota, Jeronuno Yanex cauycd the death ofPhilando Castile
by culpable negligence whereby Jeronimo Yancz created an unreasonable ri.sk, and consciousJy took the chance
of causing death or greiit bodily harm to another.
Said acts constituting the offense of Manslaughter " Znd Degree - Culpable Negligence Creating
Unrcasoiiitblc Risk in violation of: §609.205.(I).
Maximum Sentence: 10 years or $20,000 or both
COUNT 2
On or about July 6, 2016, in Ramsey County, Minnesota, Jeronimo Yancx intentionally discharged s\ fu'earm
under ciroumstanccs tW endangered tho sal^ly of another Diamond Reynolds,
Said acts con.stUuting Ehe oH'cnsc ol'Dangerous Wcapons-Intcntioniit Discharge oi'Firenrm Th;it Endangers
.Safety in violation of: §609.66. la(a)(2),
Maximum Senlence; 5 years or $H)»000 or both.
Jcronfino Yiincx Page; 2 of 10
Co. Alty Compiaint No: 0620373879
COUNT 3
On or about July 6» 2016, in Ramscy County, Minnesota, Jcronimo Yanez intentionally discharged a Hrcarm
under circumstances that endangered the safety of another D.F.R.
Said acts constituting the offense of Dangerous Wcnpons-IntcntiomU Uischiirge of Firearm TIiaf Kndangers
Safety in vlolalion ol^ §609.66. la(a)(2).
Maximum Sentence; 5 years or $10,000 or both.
Jcronlmo \iwav. p^gc; 3 ofiO
Co, Ally Complaint No; 0620373879
STATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE
The Complaimmt states that the Ibliowmg facts establish probable cause:
Your complainant is Doug Hennlng, Special Agent, Mitinesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. He states
tliat the following is true, correct, and establishes probable cause:
0\\ July 2t 2016, a Super USA convenience store in Laudcrdale, Minnesota, was robbed by two black males.
Video surveillance of that robbery sliowed two black male suspects, both with clreacilocks, glasses, baseball hats
and fircanns. Saint Anthony Police OfHcer Jeronimo Yane/. was one oFtlie responding officers to Ihe robbery.
On July 6,2016, just nftcr 9:00 P.M., Yanex was on patrol when he notioecl a vehicle being driven by Philando
Dival Castile, a 32-year-old black male with drcadlocks who wore glasses, and was driving eastbound 011
Lm'pcntcur Avenue in Lnuderdalc near the scene of the unsolvcd Super U.S.A. robbery. Accompanying CastUc
ill the vehicle way his ghifnend Diamond Reynolds seated in the front passenger seat, and RcynolcPs 4-year-oid
daughter, DFR, seated in a child seat in the i'ighl side rear passenger seat,
Yanez communicated his inlent to pull over Ca.slHc's vehicle by radio to Saint Anthony Police Officer Joseph
ICauser who was on patrol nearby. Yanez told Kauscr that he had reason to pull the vehicle over and that the
occupants "just took like the people that wore involved in a robbery." Ymiez furlJier staled that (
The State of Minnesota charged Jeronimo Yanez with manslaughter for shooting and killing Philando Castile, age 32, during a traffic stop in 2016. Yanez stopped Castile based on having an inoperative brake light. When Yanez approached Catile's car, Castile told him that he had a gun in the car. Yanez reacted by shooting Castile five times. The shooting was captured by Castile's girlfriend, who was a passenger in the vehicle along with her daughter.
Criminal Complaint filed by the Ramsey County Attorney's Office:
The Complainant, being duly sworn, makes complaint to the above-named Court and states Ihal there is
probable cause to believe that the Defendant commillcd the foUowingonenKe(s):
COUNT 1
On or about July 6» 2016, in Ramsey County, Minnesota, Jeronuno Yanex cauycd the death ofPhilando Castile
by culpable negligence whereby Jeronimo Yancz created an unreasonable ri.sk, and consciousJy took the chance
of causing death or greiit bodily harm to another.
Said acts constituting the offense of Manslaughter " Znd Degree - Culpable Negligence Creating
Unrcasoiiitblc Risk in violation of: §609.205.(I).
Maximum Sentence: 10 years or $20,000 or both
COUNT 2
On or about July 6, 2016, in Ramsey County, Minnesota, Jeronimo Yancx intentionally discharged s\ fu'earm
under ciroumstanccs tW endangered tho sal^ly of another Diamond Reynolds,
Said acts con.stUuting Ehe oH'cnsc ol'Dangerous Wcapons-Intcntioniit Discharge oi'Firenrm Th;it Endangers
.Safety in violation of: §609.66. la(a)(2),
Maximum Senlence; 5 years or $H)»000 or both.
Jcronfino Yiincx Page; 2 of 10
Co. Alty Compiaint No: 0620373879
COUNT 3
On or about July 6» 2016, in Ramscy County, Minnesota, Jcronimo Yanez intentionally discharged a Hrcarm
under circumstances that endangered the safety of another D.F.R.
Said acts constituting the offense of Dangerous Wcnpons-IntcntiomU Uischiirge of Firearm TIiaf Kndangers
Safety in vlolalion ol^ §609.66. la(a)(2).
Maximum Sentence; 5 years or $10,000 or both.
Jcronlmo \iwav. p^gc; 3 ofiO
Co, Ally Complaint No; 0620373879
STATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE
The Complaimmt states that the Ibliowmg facts establish probable cause:
Your complainant is Doug Hennlng, Special Agent, Mitinesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. He states
tliat the following is true, correct, and establishes probable cause:
0\\ July 2t 2016, a Super USA convenience store in Laudcrdale, Minnesota, was robbed by two black males.
Video surveillance of that robbery sliowed two black male suspects, both with clreacilocks, glasses, baseball hats
and fircanns. Saint Anthony Police OfHcer Jeronimo Yane/. was one oFtlie responding officers to Ihe robbery.
On July 6,2016, just nftcr 9:00 P.M., Yanex was on patrol when he notioecl a vehicle being driven by Philando
Dival Castile, a 32-year-old black male with drcadlocks who wore glasses, and was driving eastbound 011
Lm'pcntcur Avenue in Lnuderdalc near the scene of the unsolvcd Super U.S.A. robbery. Accompanying CastUc
ill the vehicle way his ghifnend Diamond Reynolds seated in the front passenger seat, and RcynolcPs 4-year-oid
daughter, DFR, seated in a child seat in the i'ighl side rear passenger seat,
Yanez communicated his inlent to pull over Ca.slHc's vehicle by radio to Saint Anthony Police Officer Joseph
ICauser who was on patrol nearby. Yanez told Kauscr that he had reason to pull the vehicle over and that the
occupants "just took like the people that wore involved in a robbery." Ymiez furlJier staled that (
Outcome:
Not guilty
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
Department of Justice - U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Minnesota
Statement Regarding The Verdict In The Jeronimo Yanez Trial
From the outset, this case has been closely monitored by the Department of Justice. An experienced career prosecutor with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota was cross designated to assist the state prosecution team. We determined that this course of action was the strongest available avenue for a prosecution, given the higher level of intent required under the applicable federal criminal civil rights law. In the wake of today’s verdict, we are assessing whether any additional federal review is justified.
Statement Regarding The Verdict In The Jeronimo Yanez Trial
From the outset, this case has been closely monitored by the Department of Justice. An experienced career prosecutor with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota was cross designated to assist the state prosecution team. We determined that this course of action was the strongest available avenue for a prosecution, given the higher level of intent required under the applicable federal criminal civil rights law. In the wake of today’s verdict, we are assessing whether any additional federal review is justified.
About This Case
What was the outcome of State of Minnesota v. Jeronimo Yanez?
The outcome was: Not guilty
Which court heard State of Minnesota v. Jeronimo Yanez?
This case was heard in District Court, Ramsey County, Minnesota, MN. The presiding judge was William H. Leary III.
Who were the attorneys in State of Minnesota v. Jeronimo Yanez?
Plaintiff's attorney: Jeffrey Paulsen. Defendant's attorney: Paul Engh, Tom Kelly and Earl Gray.
When was State of Minnesota v. Jeronimo Yanez decided?
This case was decided on June 17, 2017.