Jury finds Kansas City, Missouri, man guilty of leading cyberstalking conspiracy that led to 2018 murder

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A federal trial jury discovered a Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, man responsible of main a cyberstalking conspiracy that led to the 2018 homicide of Christopher Harris, Jr., of Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, exterior an Independence dwelling.

Lester E. Brown, 36, was discovered responsible on Friday of 1 depend of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, one depend of cyberstalking leading to dying and one depend of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

From Nov. 1, 2017, to March 19, 2018, Brown put a number of GPS units on autos utilized by Harris and his associates to trace their whereabouts.

Earlier than his homicide, Harris was despatched Snapchat messages demanding funds to Brown of $10,000 per thirty days and exhibiting the GPS units.

Harris’ girlfriend was watched at her place of employment and was adopted to her and Harris’ dwelling in January 2018. The following month, a GPS was positioned on Harris’s black Nissan Altima, earlier than a second was positioned on his car on March 12, 2018.

Brown, together with two defendants who plead responsible to their roles within the conspiracy, Michael Younger, 32, and Ronell Pearson, 36, pinpointed Harris’ location at a dance studio in Raytown, Missouri, on March 14, 2018.

The US Division of Justice mentioned the three males adopted Harris whereas he drove his daughter to her mom’s dwelling in Independence from dance class. Whereas exterior the Independence dwelling, Brown and Younger fired into Harris’ car, inflicting him to yell “My daughter’s within the automotive!” a number of occasions.

Harris’ daughter entered the house unhurt, however Brown continued to fireside at Harris as he ran in direction of the residence, inflicting him to fall to the bottom. The DOJ mentioned that Brown stood above Harris and “fired two final rounds at him whereas he lay on the bottom,” utilizing a Glock .45-caliber pistol that he illegally possessed due to a earlier felony conviction.

The DOJ additionally offered proof within the 2013 homicide of Ryan Cobbins, who was a pal and affiliate to Harris.

Cobbins went lacking on Oct. 24, 2013, after a haircut appointment. The following month, Brown accepted a $20,000 ransom cost for Cobbins’ return after Brown claimed he might function a intermediary between Harris and those that kidnapped Cobbins, in accordance with a launch from the DOJ.

Cobbins was discovered useless on Dec. 31, 2014, after affected by a number of gunshot wounds.

One threatening Snapchat message despatched to Harris mentioned “Man, you … are gonna find yourself like Ryan.”

The jury deliberated on the U.S. District Court docket in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, for three-and-a-half hours after proof was offered, earlier than discovering Brown responsible.

Brown faces a most sentence of life in jail with out parole. His sentencing listening to might be scheduled after a presentence investigation is accomplished.

Younger and Pearson each pleaded responsible to the cyberstalking conspiracy, and Younger pleaded responsible to aiding and abetting cyberstalking leading to dying. Each males are in custody awaiting sentencing.

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For jurisdictions that make the most of the Larger Kansas Metropolis Crime Stoppers Ideas Hotline, nameless ideas could be made by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip on-line or by the free cellular app at P3Tips.com.

Annual murder particulars and information for the Kansas Metropolis space can be found by the KSHB 41 Information Murder Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Learn the KSHB 41 Information Mug Shot Coverage.