Probation violations put convicted killer behind bars again

September 25, 2007

http://www.startribune.com/467/story/1445356.html

This headline is lame. "Probation Violation" makes the headline seem tame. "Burglar-Turned-Murderer at it Again" would be more accurate.

Convicted killer Feon Stone is going back to jail after he admitted in court Tuesday that he had violated probation by getting arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary.

Stone, 21, served seven months in jail after he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter last year. In that case, he punched 29-year-old Christopher Beck during an attempted burglary Aug. 23, 2006, causing Beck to fall backward and hit his head and die. Stone also was a suspect in several other attempted burglaries, police said.

From the Pioneer Press, we get:

St. Paul / Man guilty in homicide now a burglary suspect

Much better.

This guy gets a stayed sentence for home invasion/murder, then goes right back to home invasion. This time, he's busted on a two-fer.

A man who served seven months in jail for manslaughter and last week allegedly broke into two St. Paul homes might be heading to prison, according to a court document filed Tuesday.

Ramsey County District Judge Salvador Rosas signed an order Tuesday that led to Feon Stone, 21, being arrested again.

In January, Rosas sentenced Stone to about seven years in prison for killing his girlfriend's uncle, Christopher Beck, and stayed the sentence. He also sentenced Stone to one year in jail and 15 years' probation.

Stone, who had been in jail since the August 2006 homicide, was released from the county workhouse in April after serving about two-thirds of his jail sentence, which is standard practice.

St. Paul police arrested Stone last week on suspicion of burglary. He allegedly broke into a North End home early Thursday and punched the homeowner in the head during a scuffle when the man confronted him. The homeowner fired a gun, and Stone ran away.

Soon after, Stone allegedly broke into a nearby home where a 74-year-old woman had been sleeping. The woman got out, and police caught Stone in the house.

Stone was held in the Ramsey County jail until Saturday, when he was released pending further investigation. He hasn't been charged in connection with the break-ins.

Beck's mother said she is pleased about the prospect of Stone facing prison.

"It's about time," said Joan Abbott. "I finally feel like we're getting some justice for Chris."

Empire Township Boy and Grandmother Kidnapped for Ransom

September 18, 2007

http://wcco.com/topstories/Dakota.County.potential.2.370372.html

...a man, who claimed to be a law enforcement officer, took a grandmother and her grandson hostage at a home in rural Dakota County.

"He identified himself as a police officer. He wasn't in uniform, he was lead into the residence. Once he was in the residence he took the grandmother hostage," said Bellow.

Investigators say the suspect handcuffed the grandmother, then drove her and the 2-year-old to the Apple Valley TCF Bank.

"Was given specific instructions to take money from the bank and then she was given further instructions where to leave it. She followed the instructions because she was told that her mother and child were being held hostage," said Bellow.

An undisclosed amount of ransom money was dropped off at the Farmington ice arena where the kidnapper picked it up.

Several days later (9/22) police released a sketch of the suspect and a vehicle description taken from a surveillance camera at the ice rink where the ransom money was dropped:

The FBI thinks the man is in his late twenties -- about six feet tall, with a muscular build.
...
A surveillance camera snapped a picture of the kidnapper's SUV as he drove off.

It's tough to make out, but the FBI said it's a white Land Rover, Toyota or Honda.

If you know anything about this case, you are asked to call 911.

More Links:
http://www.thisweek-online.com/2007/September/25empinci92407.html
http://kstp.com/article/stories/s200360.shtml?cat=1

Woman injured in St. Paul home invasion

September 17, 2007

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1427534.html

A St. Paul woman is recovering from minor injuries after two men broke into her home late Sunday.

The intruders entered her home on the 1100 block of W. Minnehaha Avenue around 11 p.m. and "demanded items of value," said Tom Walsh, a police department spokesman.

Duluth home invasion: St. Thomas student charged

September 12, 2007

http://www.startribune.com/467/story/1419412.html

A University of St. Thomas student and Army National Guard member has been charged with a home invasion that terrified a Duluth boy and his mother.

David E. Schiller, 19, of St. Paul studied robberies, burglary and blood forensics, and then staked out the Duluth home for 10 to 15 days before breaking in on Aug. 30, according to a complaint charging him with first-degree burglary and kidnapping.

Choir boys trying something new, or career criminals (un)lucky enough not to have been shot, yet?

That third man had driven Schilling to other home invasions and had told Schilling that the family kept money in a safe in their home, the complaint says.