Burglars Break into Local Band’s House in Saint Paul

What is a criminal defense case for the suspects is a case of a Christmas Eve gone terrible for the victims. A local musician who is a part of a well known local rock band had his Saint Paul home and recording studio broken into over the evening of Christmas Eve. The musician lost $25,000 in electronic gear but more importantly he lost two albums that he had been recording for two different bands.

The holiday break-in occurred sometime between 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve and 12:30 a.m. Christmas Day and occurred near Lake Como in St. Paul. The burglary was discovered when the musician’s roommate came home and saw that the front door had been destroyed. The roommate walked into the house and discovered removed dressers draws, flipped mattresses and a laundry list of missing electronic goods. Among the electronics that were taken were a $2,500 synthesizer, speakers, a $1,500 microphone, three televisions, two computer monitors and two iPods.

Burglars also took two nearly finished albums that the musician and recording engineer had been working on for two different bands. The musician also had a recording studio in the home. Commenting on the albums, the musician said that he is able to remember the recorded music which could never be taken away by the burglars but said the loss of the recorded albums was devastating. One of the albums was of a local country rock band that the musician’s roommate is part of.

Police arrived at 2:00 a.m. and a report was filed. Police searched the home for physical evidence the next day and an analysis is being conducted on the evidence.

Source: Star Tribune, “St. Paul Rocker is Rocked by Recordings Lost in Break-in,” Randy Furst, 12/25/10

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

The Surprising Cost of a Guilty Criminal Plea in Minnesota

Defendants in Minnesota may plead guilty or accept deals without understanding the hidden cost of a guilty criminal plea. A guilty criminal plea, regardless of how appealing it appears, can leave you dealing with substantial lifelong consequences. You may skip lengthy trial proceedings and likely get a lenient sentence, but end up with a criminal record. The record can lead to various financial and collateral consequences, including difficulty in securing employment, loss of housing rights, license revocation, and immigration issues.

What You Can Expect at a Pre-Trial Motions Hearing in Minnesota

The pre-trial motions hearing is a court session you attend after your first arraignment. At the hearing, the prosecution and defense appear before a judge to clear several details about the case before trial. These details include pre-trial motions, evidentiary queries, and constitutional matters.

Refusing Arrest vs. Resisting Arrest in Minnesota: What’s the Difference?

Highly publicized incidents of police using excessive force over the past few years have led to people wondering, “What’s the difference between refusing arrest vs. resisting arrest?” Resisting arrest in Minnesota occurs when you use force to prevent a police officer from making a lawful arrest. Refusing an arrest, on the other hand, involves statements or actions that show reluctance to cooperate with an officer’s instructions without using force.