Murder trial moved to Montevideo

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

REDWOOD FALLS -- The case of a 18-year old Morton man charged with first degree murder will be heard by a Chippewa County jury, a Redwood County judge ruled recently.

Robin Todd Pendleton, Jr., was indicted this fall on murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, crimes committed for the benefit of a gang and unlawful possession of a firearm in Redwood County District Court.

Pendleton is accused of participating in the shooting death of Frank Irving Parker, Jr., 22, of Minneapolis on June 9, 2002.

Pendleton is one of a total of four suspects charged in connection with Parker's death, which happened outside a house party on the Lower Sioux Indian Community.

Pendleton's attorney, Barry Voss of Minneapolis, requested a change of venue last month. Redwood County District Judge David Peterson issued an order on Feb. 2. The order will move the trial to Montevideo, according to the Redwood County court administrator's office. The case is scheduled to go to trial on Tuesday and is scheduled through the end of this month.

Under Minnesota state law, murder in the first degree has a mandatory life sentence while second-degree murder has a 40-year maximum penalty. Unlawful possession of a firearm is punishable by no more than 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.

So far, two of the suspects in Parker's death -- Christopher Richard Sander and Dennis William Pendleton, Jr. -- have gone through the court system. Dennis Pendleton was sentenced to 60 months in prison after he plead guilty by way of an Alford plea on Feb. 10, 2003. Sander was acquitted by a Nicollet County jury on March 6, 2003.

Another suspect, Jesse Ross Sander, 21, of rural Morton, is expected to stand trial on similar charges in April. Sander was indicted with Robin Pendleton this fall.

The Redwood County court administrator's office said Voss has also asked the court to change the location of Jesse Sander's trial but no decision has been made.