Barnes v. State
Minnesota Court of Appeals
489 N.W.2d 273 (1992)
- Written by Arlyn Katen, JD
Facts
Russell Barnes (defendant) proceeded to a jury trial on charges of first-degree burglary, aggravated robbery, and four counts of second-degree assault. A juror became ill, and Barnes allowed jury deliberations to continue instead of accepting a mistrial. On the third day of deliberations, the jury announced two deadlocks. The trial court planned to declare a mistrial if the jury did not reach a verdict by 10:00 p.m. that evening. At 9:30 p.m., Barnes rejected the prosecutor’s (plaintiff) plea bargain offer. The defense counsel then learned that the jury had reached a verdict and that the plea offer was still open. Barnes pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, stating that he was present during the offense but did not commit the offenses charged. After the court accepted Barnes’s plea, Barnes learned that the jury would have acquitted him. Barnes filed motions to vacate his plea and for a judgment of acquittal, but the trial court denied both motions and sentenced Barnes. The court subsequently denied Barnes’s post-conviction petition seeking to withdraw his guilty plea, and Barnes appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Davies, J.)
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