Antonio D. Burton, charged with burglarizing a University-area apartment and raping two residents, will likely spend his 21st birthday in jail awaiting a trial date.
Burton, 20, has been in jail since his Oct. 9 Wisconsin arrest following a high-speed car chase.
He appeared for a pretrial conference Friday in Hennepin County District Court, when the state appointed a private attorney for him. His next court appearance is Dec. 11,10 days after his birthday.
Burton’s attorney, Arthur “Arturo” Martinez, is a private attorney who is acting as a public defender in this case.
The state often hires private attorneys to represent suspects who are all charged with the same crime and who all need public defenders.
Puiassance J. Andersen, 20, who is charged in connection with the burglary and rape incident, also appeared Friday in Hennepin County District Court. Paul Schneck, a private attorney hired by the state, was appointed Andersen’s defender.
Andersen will appear Dec. 11 in Hennepin County District Court.
— Kamariea ForcierStaff Reporter