A conviction for a criminal act in Minneapolis does not always mean that a person is going to spend time behind bars. The presiding judge often has several penalty options to choose from, depending on the type, and severity, of the crime committed.
These penalties may include house arrest, probation, incarceration, the payment of fines and even participation in a treatment program. If people do not abide by the terms of their sentence, they can find themselves dealing with more serious felony charges and facing stiffer penalties.
Violation of release
A man from New Ulm is likely in this situation after violating his release terms. Instead of remaining in a treatment program on a $25,000 unsecured bond, the man allegedly took off. The man is in custody after engaging with law enforcement in a mobile chase through part of Minneapolis. The chase ended when local officers and deputies from the U.S. Marshals Service caught him.
The chase began when the man was seen, although it is unclear who spotted him or whether law enforcement was waiting for him to appear. Reports indicate he allegedly tried to elude the officers in his vehicle. During the chase, one witness claims a deputy marshal fired shots at the man’s vehicle as it approached a roadblock. Authorities would not confirm this report. As the man was trying to escape from officers, he reportedly avoided a collision with a bus and sideswiped parked cars in his path.
Prohibited gun possession
Prior to the man’s residency in the treatment program, he had been in trouble with law enforcement on several occasions; his prior offenses include assault and burglary. His latest trouble arose over gun possession. This generated a federal weapons charge for being an armed career criminal in possession of a firearm.
According to Minnesota statute, people convicted of crimes are prohibited from owning a firearm. The length of prohibition is determined by the type of crime committed. These rules involve the following guidelines:
- Violent crimes, such as robbery, assault, murder, kidnapping and sexual crimes: at least ten years past the date that they fulfilled their sentence or had their civil rights restored.
- Non-violent felonies with more than one year incarceration: until civil rights are restored.
- Domestic assault protection orders: three years beyond conviction, unless the person has been convicted of other crimes.
- Drug offenses: two years and with proof that there has been no drug usage
- Repeat assaults: three years from previous assault conviction
In some extreme cases, such as a person using a firearm while harassing or stalking another person, it may be decided that the person is banned from owning or possessing a firearm for life. Any violation of these laws can result in further criminal charges being filed.
