Prominent Milwaukee activist Khalil Coleman has been found guilty of robbery in Kentucky

Jordyn Noennig, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
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Community activist Khalil Coleman, who led marches during the summer of 2020 throughout Milwaukee, was found guilty of first-degree robbery in Kentucky.
Community activist Khalil Coleman, who led marches during the summer of 2020 throughout Milwaukee, was found guilty of first-degree robbery in Kentucky.

Milwaukee activist Khalil Coleman on Friday was found guilty of first-degree robbery in Kenton County Court, Kentucky.

Coleman was also found not guilty in a lesser charge of unlawful transaction with a minor.

The conviction was first reported by conservative site Wisconsin Right Now.

The jury recommended Coleman be sentenced 10 years in prison, though the charges could lead up to 20 years. He will be sentenced by a judge on a later date.

Coleman was one of three arrested, including a minor, in February 2021 by Elsmere police officers.

According to Elsmere Police Chief Joe Maier, the group allegedly attempted to rob a drug house.

“They went to a drug house to rob a drug house,” Maier said. “One of the occupants went up to the drug house and had a Glock handgun with a 50-round magazine drum. ... When it didn’t work they hurried up and left the scene, jumped in a white vehicle and left.”

As they were leaving, Maier said the group got boxed in by a snowplow and were stopped by police.

Maier said two handguns and material suspected to be heroin and marijuana were found in the car.

Coleman was the driver of the car. He and Joshua Clarey, 24, of New Berlin, coerced a man who was 17 at the time to go to an alleged drug house and steal money.

Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders told Wisconsin Right Now that he believes the verdict was correct based on overwhelming proof that Coleman planned and participated in the armed home invasion robbery.

He also said that the juvenile in the robbery was only months from their 18th birthday and that the jury was not convinced Coleman knew he was a juvenile.

Coleman was a leader of marches in Milwaukee against police brutality during the summer of 2020, after George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis.

Ricardo Torres of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

Jordyn Noennig covers Wisconsin culture and lifestyle. Follow her on Instagram @JordynTaylor_n. Find her on Twitter @JordynTNoennig. Call her at 262-446-6601 or email Jordyn.Noennig@jrn.com.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee activist Khalil Coleman found guilty of robbery in Kentucky