State of Minnesota v. Kevin Lemar Jones

Minneapolis, Minnesota criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with first degree murder in violation of Minn. Stat. Section 609.185(a)(3) (2020).





Following a bench trial, appellant Kevin Lemar Jones was convicted of first-degree felony murder and sentenced to life in prison. Jones filed a direct appeal that we stayed to allow him to pursue postconviction relief. In his petition for postconviction relief, Jones challenged the sufficiency of the evidence, argued that a central witness's identification of him was irrevocably tainted in violation of his due process rights, and raised claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Following an evidentiary hearing at which Jones and his trial counsel testified, the district court denied the petition. Jones appealed.



We lifted the stay and consolidated Jones's appeals. In this consolidated appeal, Jones continues to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence, the propriety of the witness identification, and the effectiveness of trial counsel. Jones also argues that he was deprived of his right to a speedy trial.

Affirmed