Inmate Faces New Felony After Alleged Plot to Influence Victim
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A Minneapolis man already facing criminal sexual conduct and robbery charges is now charged in a separate Ramsey County case alleging he tried to pay a victim to avoid testifying.
Dalvin Jarrell Crockett, 24, is charged with felony bribery for allegedly arranging and directing an effort to influence a witness connected to his pending sexual assault case.
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Court records show Crockett was already charged in Ramsey County with first-degree criminal sexual conduct and first-degree aggravated robbery stemming from a Feb. 8, 2024 incident at a hotel on the 1900 block of University Avenue West in Saint Paul. In that case, investigators say a woman reported she was sexually assaulted at gunpoint after arranging to meet Crockett. Authorities allege he was armed, threatened her with a firearm and later took property from the victim before leaving.
According to the criminal complaint, Crockett is currently in state custody after being convicted in a separate Hennepin County case involving another victim. That offense occurred three days before the Ramsey County assault and also involved rape and robbery.
The new bribery charge centers on contact made with the victim while she was hospitalized after giving birth. Investigators say a woman went to the hospital with a child and introduced herself under a different name, offering to help the victim during the holidays. The two exchanged phone numbers.
In the days that followed, the victim received messages and calls offering money if she did not appear in court. According to investigators, the offer was for $1,500 and later increased to $2,000. The victim reported the contact to police, saying she was frightened and believed the offer was tied to the pending sexual assault case.
Investigators determined the phone numbers used in the communications were linked to Owens and another woman. Both were listed as approved visitors for Crockett while he was in custody. Jail call recordings show Crockett repeatedly contacting them using other inmates’ identification numbers and directing how the conversations with the victim should occur.
According to transcripts summarized in the complaint, Crockett discussed how the approach should be framed, encouraged persistence and discussed offering money to prevent the victim from testifying. Investigators say he coached the women on what to say and how to avoid drawing attention, including discussing how to explain the contact and how much money to offer.
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Police say the woman later admitted she went to the hospital and attempted to speak with the victim about not going to court and acknowledged that the money was meant to influence testimony. She was arrested in connection with the investigation.
Court records show Crockett made more than 1,000 phone calls to the woman over a six-month period and dozens to the second number used during the effort. Investigators also documented calls in which Crockett discussed the plan in coded language and referenced the upcoming court case.
In the underlying Ramsey County case, police say the Feb. 8, 2024 assault occurred after Crockett entered the victim’s hotel room and displayed a firearm. Investigators allege he ordered the victim to comply, sexually assaulted her, recorded the assault and later searched her belongings. After leaving, he continued contacting her by phone. Police later recovered firearms, masks and other items during a search of his residence.
Crockett was arrested and later admitted to being at the hotel that night but denied committing sexual assault, according to the complaint. He also admitted to committing multiple robberies involving escorts in the weeks surrounding the incident.
In the new bribery case, a judge found probable cause and ordered Crockett held on $500,000 bail. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison.
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