(St. Paul, Mn.)– The Minnesota Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez for his role in the 1997 slaying of Gregory “Sky” Erickson of Estherville.
Castillo-Alvarez was convicted by a jury following a trial in Jackson county. He was sentenced to 28 months on a kidnapping charge and 480 months on a charge of second degree intentional murder. The sentences are to be served consecutively.
Castillo-Alvarez appealed, arguing the Minnesota conviction was double jeopardy. The court of appeals rejected the argument, saying that a second prosecution wasn’t barred under Minnesota law. However, it did reverse an order that Castillo-Alvarez pay for the preparation of a pre-trial transcript.
Erickson was kidnapped in June of 1997 and was taken to an abandoned farmhouse in Jackson county where he was tortured and eventually murdered over a drug debt. Erickson was gagged and shot by a member of the drug gang, Luis Lua. The gun was then passed to a companion, Ryan Wedebrand who also shot Erickson.
Castillo-Alvarez, who had fronted the drugs, was pressuring Erickson to pay up. Castillo-Alvarez fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution. He was extradited in October, 2006. Castillo-Alvarez was found guilty by an Iowa jury in September, 2007 but the Iowa Court of Appeals reversed the conviction, saying Castillo-Alvarez was denied his speedy trial rights.
Jackson county, Minnesota authorities then filed charges of aiding and abetting second degree murder and one count of aiding and abetting kidnapping against Castillo-Alvarez.
