Traffic & Transit

Teen Sentenced In Crash That Killed Woodbury Man, Burnsville Woman

Leon Bond and his sister were both convicted in a deadly drag-race crash that killed a Woodbury woman and a Burnsville man.

On Jan. 10, Leon Bond pled guilty to two counts of murder in the third degree. He received an adult sentence of 150 months in prison on each count.
On Jan. 10, Leon Bond pled guilty to two counts of murder in the third degree. He received an adult sentence of 150 months in prison on each count. (Google Streetview)

BURNSVILLE, MN — A 19-year-old Burnsville man was sentenced under extended juvenile jurisdiction Monday for his involvement in a drag-race crash on County Road 42 that killed two people.

On Jan. 10, Leon Bond pled guilty to two counts of murder in the third degree. He received an adult sentence of 150 months in prison on each count.

However, the adult sentence was stayed, and Leon was placed on juvenile probation until age 21.

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Leon Bond was 17 at the time of the crash. The Dakota County Attorney’s Office sought to certify him as an adult, but the motion was denied, and the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed that decision.

Leon's sister, Camille Dennis-Bond, was convicted by a Dakota County jury in the same crash last month. Camille is scheduled to be sentenced on March 24.

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"The deaths of Tayler Garza and Dalton Ford were due to the extremely reckless behavior of both Leon Bond and his sister Camille Dennis-Bond," Dakota County Attorney Kathy Kenna said in a statement earlier this month.

"My deepest sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Tayler Garza and Dalton Ford for their great loss."

This Dakota County booking photo shows Camille Dennis-Bond. She was 19 at the time of the fatal crash, and her brother Leon was 17.

On April 4, 2021, at about 10:30 a.m., Camille was spotted drag racing against her brother, Leon, investigators said. Camille was 19 at the time, and Leon was 17.

Leon's Chrysler 200 was going east on County Road 42 between Burnsville Parkway and Newton Avenue in Burnsville at a high rate of speed, driving side-by-side with Camille's Chevy Malibu, according to police.

The posted speed limit was 50 mph, but Camille and Leon were driving at speeds of 41 to 64 mph over the limit, investigators said.

As the two cars approached Newton Avenue, a Honda CRV pulled into the left turn lane of westbound County Road 42 to cross onto Newton Avenue.

Dalton Ford was driving the Honda and Tayler Garza was sitting in the front-seat passenger seat.

While the Honda crossed County Road 42, Leon t-boned the Honda, according to police. The crash caused the Honda to split in half.

Camille's vehicle just missed striking the Honda, investigators said.

Both Ford and Garza died at the scene, according to police.

Authorities said that according to a witness, Leon's vehicle was going "incredibly fast" when it hit the Honda, which "basically turned into powder and split in half" as a result of the crash.

Investigators later determined that Leon’s vehicle was going 114 five seconds before the crash. It was going between 93 and 100 mph at the point of impact, authorities said.

Investigators said the primary contributing factor to the crash was the excessive speed of Leon's car. A secondary contributing factor was Camille’s vehicle and her racing with Leon, according to police.

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