State v. Townsend, A18-0792 - a podcast by TCL Media

In 2017, Savonte Townsend was charged with simple robbery under Minn. Stat. § 609.24 (2018). An employee at a liquor store reported to law enforcement that Townsend concealed bottles of liquor in her bag and attempted to leave the store, but when she was confronted by the employee, a physical altercation ensued and Townsend relinquished the bottles of liquor. The case proceeded to a court trial and the district court found Townsend guilty. The court of appeals affirmed Townsend’s conviction, concluding that the phrase “carrying away” in the simple-robbery statute means the act of moving personal property from the location of the taking.

On appeal to the supreme court, the issue presented is whether the court of appeals correctly interpreted the language of the simple-robbery statute. (Hennepin County)

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