Jackson County Prosecutor Disputes 'Stand Your Ground' After Gang Members Convicted

More than anything else, the statement from "Mean Jean" offers context for this tragic local case.

We've highlighted her remarks . . .

Jackson County judge convicts two gang members in Crown Center shootings

A Jackson County judge on Friday convicted two Kansas City defendants of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with a gun battle on a January afternoon this year inside Crown Center, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

The judge convicted Brian Favela, 23, and Joel Olivas, 24, identified by prosecutors as East Side gang members of two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Class B felonies, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action, as well as three misdemeanor counts of Harassment in the 2nd Degree. The judge dismissed one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Armed Criminal Action finding not enough evidence was shown to overcome Missouri's self-defense laws on those two counts.

"Today's verdict points to a level of accountability that this office will seek for individuals who engage in this kind of insidious conduct, even when the defendants are armored with Missouri's very generous self-defense laws," Baker stated. "We will take every step possible to hold offenders accountable for their own criminal behavior. I'm grateful for this trial team who worked so hard and so quickly to get these offenders to trial. And I am so grateful for the management team at Crown Center and Hallmark and the KCPD, who helped in every possible way to get today's verdict."

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Two gang members convicted in Crown Center shootings

A Jackson County judge on Friday convicted two Kansas City defendants of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with a gun battle on January 17 inside Crown Center.

Two Kansas City men convicted of Crown Center gun fight that injured 6

Judge Margene Burnett convicted Brian Favela, 23, and Joel Olivas, 24, of several felony charges, but dismissed other weapons counts due to Missouri's self-defense laws. Prosecutors said the two men were gang members.

Gang members convicted in Crown Center shooting

Two East Side gang members were convicted of charges stemming from a gun battle inside Crown Center in January.

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