State v. Scruggs

421 N.W.2d 707, 1988 Minn. LEXIS 49, 1988 WL 23926
CourtSupreme Court of Minnesota
DecidedMarch 25, 1988
DocketC4-87-719
StatusPublished
Cited by67 cases

This text of 421 N.W.2d 707 (State v. Scruggs) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Scruggs, 421 N.W.2d 707, 1988 Minn. LEXIS 49, 1988 WL 23926 (Mich. 1988).

Opinion

POPOVICH, Justice.

Appellant John Scruggs was convicted of murder in the first degree in connection with the shooting death of Christine Kreitz, following a jury trial in Hennepin County District Court, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, appellant alleges (1) there is insufficient evidence to sustain the conviction; (2) the plea agreements entered into between the state and the state’s chief witnesses violated appellant’s right to a fair trial and due process of law by encouraging false testimony; (3) the trial court erred in failing to hold a Spreigl hearing with regard to evidence of appellant’s involvement in a gun store burglary; (4) the prosecutor’s comments during his closing argument were misconduct requiring a new trial; and (5) the admissible evidence before the grand jury was insufficient to support the indictment. We affirm.

I.

The body of 16-year-old Christine Kreitz was found in Martin Luther King Park in Minneapolis at 7:00 a.m. on October 13, 1985. An autopsy revealed that Kreitz died from two gunshot wounds to the head. Although Kreitz’ pants were pulled down to her knees and her underwear had been tom off, the autopsy revealed no evidence of sexual assault.

Prior to her death, Kreitz was associated with a youth gang named The Black Gangster Disciple Nation (the “Disciples”). Several gang members testified appellant (a.k.a. “Sheik”) was the leader of both the St. Paul and Minneapolis factions of the Disciples in September, 1985. The gang *710 held regular meetings, some of which were held at appellant's home.

The Disciples had a “code of silence” which prohibited gang members from talking to outsiders about gang activities. For a violation of the code of silence a gang member could be beaten. The penalty for providing information to the police was to be killed by being shot twice in the head.

On September 21,1985, a Disciples meeting was held at the home of gang-member Mary Braxton. During the meeting appellant led a discussion planning a burglary of the Minneapolis Outlet Gun Exchange. Although appellant denied being present while the burglary was planned or carried out, several other witnesses described the burglary as follows: Appellant sent gang-members Grailon Williams and Orpheus Hicks to steal a van. A group of Disciples then went in the van to the gun store. The burglary attempt was aborted, however, due to “too much traffic” and the gang members returned to Braxton’s house. Later, several gang members, including appellant and Christine Kreitz, returned to the gun store. Appellant wore a leather jacket when he left Braxton’s house. Appellant and Kreitz waited across the street from the gun store while several gang members broke the front windows and grabbed handguns. Appellant then ran in and stole more guns.

The police arrived and arrested Kreitz and unsuccessfully chased a suspect matching appellant’s description, who was wearing a dark-colored waist length jacket. Shortly thereafter, the police found six handguns lying nearby and a dark-colored leather jacket, which, was dry despite the rainy weather conditions. When appellant arrived back at Braxton’s he was no longer wearing the leather jacket. He told members of the Disciples he had stolen some handguns and thrown them behind a bank before evading the police. Appellant stated Christine Kreitz had been caught and might be “snitching” to the police. Appellant distributed the stolen handguns among the Disciples.

On October 1, 1985, gang-member Patrick Owens was arrested while in possession of one of the guns stolen from the gun store. Owens gave the police information implicating appellant in the gun store burglary. On October 7, 1985, police executed a search warrant at appellant’s home, but no guns were found. The police informed defendant he and the Disciples were suspects in the burglary.

In late September, 1985, appellant was introduced to Kwame McDonald and Robert Hickman. Both McDonald and Hickman were involved in community organizations helping youth. The two men, concerned about gangs and teenage prostitution problems, became acquainted with appellant because they were informed appellant had contacts with gangs. Appellant met with McDonald and Hickman a number of times and both men felt appellant was successful in helping reduce teenage prostitution in St. Paul. Hickman testified no money was ever promised to appellant, but appellant was given a copy of a grant proposal for $58,580 to be used to create jobs for youth. Appellant told the Disciples the money would be used to get them jobs. Disciples member Sandra White testified appellant told her the money would be used to buy a club to be called “Le Sheik’s Bar.”

At approximately 4:00 p.m. on October 12, 1985, a meeting was held at the Inner City Youth League in St. Paul. Present were appellant, Disciples Sandra White and David Carson, Hickman, McDonald, and St. Paul Mayor George Latimer. The purpose was to enlist Mayor Latimer’s support in raising funds for the grant proposal. May- or Latimer was under the impression appellant was a former gang leader. He stated he favored creating job opportunities to get youth off the streets, but any illegal gang activity would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. After the meeting, appellant made a video for the Inner City Youth League. Hickman gave appellant a ride home at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The same evening, the Disciples gathered at Mary Braxton’s house. Christine Kreitz arrived at 6:00 or 6:30 p.m.. When Kreitz arrived, two of Braxton’s children, a friend named Christine Canada, and two small children for whom Braxton was babysitting *711 were present. Kreitz had a headache and Braxton gave her a prescription desipra-mine tablet — a medication used to combat depression. Other Disciples and friends, including Donald Hunter and Marion Gil-chrest, came to Braxton’s on their way to a nearby party.

Appellant called and spoke to Braxton and Hunter. Appellant told Hunter there were two “snitches” in the organization and something had to be done. When Hunter inquired further, appellant said, “[I]t’s already under control.” Appellant later arrived at Braxton’s home.

Sandra White testified appellant called her home and spoke to Grailon Williams. Appellant stated Williams and White should go to Braxton’s. Williams told White to bring a “missile” a gun). White took her .22 caliber revolver, and she and Williams took the bus to Braxton’s.

White testified they arrived at Braxton’s at approximately 1:30 a.m. She testified further that while Kreitz was sleeping in a chair, appellant, Braxton, Williams and White went into the bathroom together. Appellant asked White if she had brought the gun and she replied that she had. The four then went to another room, and appellant stated, “This got to be tooken care of tonight,” and, “She may not come around here no more. I think she knows what’s going on, but she’s not for sure.” Appellant told the others they should walk Kreitz home, find a secluded area and shoot her twice in the head while making the murder “look like a rape.”

Kreitz, appellant, Williams, Braxton, White and Christine Canada stayed behind while other gang members left Braxton’s to go to a nearby houseparty. Appellant told Kreitz she could not go to the party. She said she wanted to go home.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
421 N.W.2d 707, 1988 Minn. LEXIS 49, 1988 WL 23926, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-scruggs-minn-1988.