Man Convicted Of Killing Moore High School Cross Country Runners Filed Intent To Appeal His Sentence

In this Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, file photo, emergency crews respond to a scene where a vehicle hit several Moore High School students in Moore, Okla. (Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman via AP, File)

MOORE, Oklahoma – News 9

Max Townsend was convicted in June and sentenced in August for what he did on February 3, 2020.

Townsend was convicted by a Cleveland County jury for running down a group of Moore High School cross country runners. Rachel Freeman, Yuridia Martinez, and Kolby Crum were killed after they were hit by a vehicle.

A judge formally sentenced Townsend on all 10 charges, including three life sentences for murder in the second degree.

Townsend’s legal team filed an intent to appeal the sentencing on August 27 before the 10-day mark. He asked to appeal his sentences for all 10 of the charges he was convicted on. Townsend also retained a new attorney for his appeal.

This is a direct appeal. The purpose of this type of appeal is not to challenge the jury’s factual determination, but to ensure the process by which the jury reached that verdict was fair and the rights of Townsend were not violated during the trial.

Jail calls and body camera footage introduced during the trial showed Townsend’s lack of remorse and inconsistency in his story about what happened that day.

Through the trial, he said he choked on a Red Bull and went unconscious.