The role of a Minnesota criminal defense attorney is not always to clear his or her client’s name. Sometimes it is very clear that the defendant did what he or she was accused of and so a lawyer’s responsibilities shift. A criminal defense lawyer is also tasked with protecting his or her client’s rights at trial and during sentencing, working toward a fair charge, a fair trial and a fair punishment. Even when a defendant pleads guilty, a criminal defense lawyer is an important asset in negotiating a plea deal.
If a 21-year-old Hibbing man had a criminal defense attorney with him when he chose to plead guilty to felony theft and robbery, his lawyer likely played an important role in getting his client probation instead of having to serve time in prison. Though many people will agree that probation conditions can be harsh, they are better than spending time in prison.
The young man will be on probation for the next three years and also serve 20 days of community service. He is forbidden from going to the liquor store that he and two others robbed, nor is he allowed to communicate with the owners of the liquor store.
Not only does the young man stay out of prison, but if he completes all the terms of probation, his charges will be dropped down to misdemeanors.
Though the robbery was reported to police by an employee of the liquor store, they quickly determined that the 32-year-old employee was also a part of the robbery scheme and was charged, too.
Source: Hibbing Daily Tribune, “Staged robbery suspect gets probation,” Kelly Grinsteinner, Sept. 3, 2013
