Man convicted in 1997 kidnap, murder

Published 9:07 am Friday, January 21, 2011

JACKSON, Minn. — A jury in southern Minnesota has convicted a man for his involvement in the kidnapping and murder of a teenager 14 years ago.

Jurors in Jackson County deliberated for more than three hours Thursday evening before finding Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez guilty of aiding and abetting second-degree murder, with and without intent, and felony kidnapping.

Prosecutors alleged members of the Los Crazy Boys gang kidnapped Gregory “Sly” Erickson in Spencer, Iowa, and killed him in southwestern Minnesota in 1997 over a $1,400 marijuana debt. Castillo-Alvarez fled to Mexico and was eventually extradited and convicted in 2008. The Iowa Court of Appeals reversed the convictions based on a violation of his right to a speedy trial. Jackson County filed new charges last year.

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