When is a Traffic Stop Legal? When Can Police Pull You Over in Minnesota? Understanding your rights. Minnesota law enforcement officers must have a legally valid reason to for a traffic stop. If an officer pulls you over without a valid reason, any evidence they obtain after pulling you over [...]
Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Sexual Conduct Conviction Charged with a Criminal Sexual Conduct Crime (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th) Degree? Wondering what the consequences would be aside from a Felony on your Record and registering as a Predatory Offender? Being convicted of a criminal sexual conduct offense is not [...]
Should I take a plea deal? What are the potential benefits and disadvantages of taking a plea deal versus going to trial? Important: This is not meant to tell you what to do in your specific case. Each case is different and requires an experienced criminal defense lawyer’s advice before [...]
Is one eyewitness enough to prove that you’re guilty of a crime? However unfair as it may seem; the prosecutor can file charges against you even if they only have one eyewitness to support the charges. In domestic assault and criminal sexual conduct cases, often the only eyewitness the prosecutor [...]
The Lesser Crime The American Criminal Justice System places immense power in the hands of the prosecutor. Clients often ask, “doesn’t the judge decide my case?” More often than not, the answer is no. A Judge’s power in a criminal case is more limited than the power of the prosecutor. [...]
In this multi-part series, we will examine and provide a general overview of criminal legal processes, as well as key pieces of evidence. This article highlights a common way to discover that you are under a criminal investigation, prior to being arrested and brought to jail. This process is common [...]
A criminal charge may be successfully defended by a claim of self-defense in Minnesota. According to a criminal defense attorney, here's what you need to know: Reasonable Force. The person exercising self-defense must have reasonably believed that force was necessary, and the force used is what a reasonable person in the same situation would believe [...]
Are you being charged or investigated for a criminal offense? You should hire a criminal defense attorney. Here are the top five things you should look for. Experience. Pay attention to the number of years the attorney has practiced criminal defense. It is important to ask about the attorney's experience [...]
On April 30, 2019, a jury convicted former police officer Mohamed Noor of Third-Degree Murder and Second-Degree Manslaughter for the death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond. The conviction sparked a legal battle over the meaning of the words “causes the death of another by perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, [...]
Minneapolis is seeing a rapid increase in violent crimes involving firearms. For example, 553 people were injured or killed by gunfire in Minneapolis in 2020, the most in 15 years. Where are these guns coming from? One method is through a scheme called "straw purchasing." Straw purchasing is when a customer purchases a gun on [...]
There's been a recent uptick in arrests for boating under the influence on Minnesota waters. Here's what you need to know. It is a crime to operate or be in physical control of a motorboat in operation on any waters or boundary waters of Minnesota when: the person is under the influence of alcohol; the [...]
Charges: Terroristic Threats (Felony) Communication with the purpose to terrorize another or in reckless disregard of the risk of causing terror. Maximum penalty: 3 years imprisonment. 1st Degree Witness Tampering (Felony) Intentionally prevents or dissuades or intentionally attempts to prevent or dissuade a witness from testifying by means of force or threats or injury. Maximum [...]
Fox 9: During the First "Stay at Home" Weekend - Two-Thirds of Police Calls Were Domestic Assault Related Earlier this week, Fox 9 News reported that, according to Governor Walz, two-thirds of all police calls over the first weekend of the "stay at home" order were for domestic assault or domestic-violence related incidents. Fox 9 [...]
Minnesota Offense Levels In order to understand how enhanceable offenses operate, you must first understand the levels of criminal offenses in Minnesota. There are four: PETTY MISDEMEANOR MISDEMEANOR GROSS MISDEMEANOR FELONY Not considered a "crime" Maximum punishment: $300 Fine Maximum punishment: $1,000 Fine and/or 90 days jail Maximum Punishment: $3,000 Fine and/or up to [...]
Backstory: According to Local News Reports Earlier this week a motorist, identified as Kenneth Lily, collided with a school bus as it merged onto the freeway in Minneapolis. Lily pulled off to the shoulder and the school bus pulled in behind his vehicle. Lily then exits his vehicle and confronts the bus driver, purportedly [...]
