Minnesota Prosecutor Seeks Early Release for Convicted Murderer, Citing 'Miscarriage of Justice'

The office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has initiated a process to reduce the life sentence of Kemen Taylor II, who was convicted for his involvement in the 2011 murder of 13-year-old Ray’Jon Gomez. The prosecutor's office argues that Taylor's current sentence represents a "miscarriage of justice" and that he should be considered for early release due to his behavior and rehabilitation efforts while incarcerated.

Andrew Markquart, the head of Moriarty's Conviction Integrity Unit, filed a prosecutor-initiated sentence adjustment (PISA) request, stating that Taylor would have received a lesser sentence if he had accepted an earlier plea deal. In 2014, Taylor was found guilty of nine felonies, including aiding and abetting first-degree premeditated murder and attempted murder, leading to a life sentence.

Moriarty's office contends that Taylor, now 40, is "a middle-aged man past the stage of life in which individuals are most likely to commit violent crimes." The filing also noted that Taylor is planning to marry. When the crime occurred in 2011, Taylor was 25, driving a van while two teenagers, Derrick Catchings (15) and Donquarius Copeland (16), exited and fatally shot Gomez and injured another boy. Taylor did not fire a weapon, but he was aware of his passengers' intent and encouraged them.

Catchings and Copeland pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received 34-year sentences. If Taylor's sentence adjustment is approved, his life sentence could be reduced to 26 years, making him eligible for probation in 2030. Ray’Jon Gomez's father, Kevin Funchie, called the request "sickening" and expressed distress over the process being reopened.

"I was really against it because [Taylor] went to trial and lost. Now they're saying it was inhumane how much time he got and this and that and they're going to try to rehabilitate him and reduce his sentence," Funchie told the Star Tribune. He added that the victim's perspective felt overlooked, stating, "It was all one-sided, there were no laws for the victims. It was all for the ones who were committing the crimes."

Moriarty's office stated that victim input and the impact of any adjustment are taken "extremely seriously" and that a process is in place for communication with victims' families. Markquart argued that while Taylor's role warrants condemnation, the conviction for first-degree murder may have been disproportionate, especially considering the charges and sentences of the two individuals who committed the shooting. He also raised concerns about the reliability of jailhouse informants used during Taylor's trial.

Since his sentencing, Taylor has earned his GED and completed courses in personal finance, public speaking, world religions, and drawing. The county attorney's office argued that his prison record does not indicate he would pose a significant risk to the public if released.

Moriarty, nicknamed 'Bloody Mary' by some locals, has faced criticism in previous cases involving sentence reductions or plea deals for defendants. Her tenure as county attorney, which began in January 2023, has been marked by public scrutiny regarding her office's handling of criminal cases and her use of taxpayer funds for personal security.