Man found not guilty of murder in drug deal

A Sedgwick County jury found Kyler Carriker not guilty of felony first-degree murder in the 2013 shooting death of Ronald Betts.

The verdict on Thursday prompted a celebration outside the courthouse, where about 30 protesters had gathered to show support for Carriker. The murder case prompted Jennifer Winn – Carriker’s mother – to make a run for governor last year.

The jury found Carriker guilty of helping to facilitate a $1,100 deal for a quarter-pound of marijuana. Sarah Swain, his attorney, said she would seek probation for the drug conviction.

Carriker, Betts and Kyle Belts were carrying guns during the April 2013 incident, said District Attorney Marc Bennett.

Carriker and the two other men were planning to sell the marijuana in a house in the 400 block of North Emporia when one of three would-be customers pulled out a gun and began firing in an aborted robbery attempt. Carriker was injured by the gunfire.

The nine-day trial attracted the attention of marijuana advocates from across the country. One man was arrested for threatening to arm himself and “storm” the Sedgwick County Courthouse if the Carriker case resulted in a guilty verdict.

“We have said from the beginning that Kyler Carriker was not a murderer,” Swain said. “He should not have been charged with felony murder. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“He was shot by the real murderers, who are in prison. I think the jury’s verdict shows that that’s what they believed also.”

Kansas’ felony murder law allows prosecutors to bring murder charges against a person implicated in but not directly responsible for a killing that occurs during the execution of a felony crime.

Bennett said that when people engage in “behavior that’s inherently dangerous,” they are held liable for the “natural consequences of that action” under the law.

“This has nothing to do with marijuana – this has to do with a drug transaction,” Bennett said.

“It’s … a state crime. Despite all the protestation outside, there’s nothing unique about this. It’s been the law since the ’50s in this state.”

Carriker said he “couldn’t breathe” when the verdict was being read.

“I trusted my attorney, and she pulled through,” Carriker said. “I can’t even begin to tell you how it feels right now.

“Justice was definitely served.”

This story was originally published July 30, 2015 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Man found not guilty of murder in drug deal."