Minnesota Supreme Court Denied Icanberry Murder Appeal
The state high court has rejected a petition to review the second-degree murder conviction of Robert Icanberry.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Criminal Justice
The Minnesota Supreme Court has denied Robert Icanberry’s petition for further review following his conviction for the 2023 murder of Terry Klevgaard. While the conviction stands, the appellate court has ordered an adjustment to his jail credit and the removal of a $50 fine.
Why it matters
The ruling concludes the primary legal challenge to the conviction, affirming the lengthy prison sentence handed down for the intentional killing in Moorhead.
Robert Icanberry was sentenced to 367 months for second-degree intentional murder. The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ordered the Clay County District Court to vacate a $50 fine and recalculate jail credit time.
The players
Robert Icanberry
The defendant was convicted of second-degree intentional murder and sentenced to over 30 years in prison.
Terry Klevgaard
The 60-year-old victim was discovered dead in his apartment following an incident in April 2023.
Minnesota Supreme Court
This is the highest judicial body in the state of Minnesota, responsible for final appellate reviews.
Clay County District Court
This local jurisdiction is responsible for the original trial and ongoing administrative sentencing adjustments.
The details
Prosecutors established that Icanberry was the sole individual to enter the victim’s apartment, with investigators later identifying Klevgaard’s DNA on the knife used in the crime. Following a guilty verdict in January 2025, the conviction was affirmed by the Minnesota Court of Appeals in June 2026.
Timeline
April 1, 2023: Terry Klevgaard was killed in Moorhead.
April 17, 2023: The body of the victim was discovered.
January 2025: Robert Icanberry was found guilty of murder.
September 16, 2026: The Minnesota Supreme Court denied the petition for review.
October 1, 2026: A hearing is set in Clay County District Court regarding sentencing adjustments.
Legal Context
This ruling follows the established Minnesota appellate review process, where the state high court determines whether to hear challenges after lower courts have already affirmed a conviction. It reflects the standard finality of judicial proceedings in criminal cases following a conviction at the district court level.
The resolution of this case brings legal finality to a violent crime that occurred in the local Moorhead community. Residents can expect the judicial process to conclude with the upcoming administrative hearing in Clay County.
The takeaway
The court's refusal to hear the case confirms that the conviction and sentence remain intact. This serves as a reminder of the extended timeline often required to reach finality in serious criminal cases.
What happens next
A hearing is scheduled in the Clay County District Court on October 1, 2026, to address the adjustment of jail credit and the vacating of the $50 fine.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's judicial system on our Minnesota Criminal Justice page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Valleynewslive.
