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

He has won jury trial cases in misdemeanor and felony cases and in DWI’s and non-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. He is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

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

Minnesota’s new marijuana law legalizes marijuana for recreational purposes for adults 21 years or older. The new law makes it unlawful for employers to take action against their employees for off-duty cannabis use. It also prohibits them from refusing to hire an applicant who tests positive for cannabis or requiring applicants to take pre-employment cannabis testing.
Is weed legal in Minnesota? Currently, weed is legal for medical and recreational use in the state. A new Minnesota law legalized weed for recreational use on August 1, 2023. Persons aged 21-years or older may possess or carry a maximum of two ounces of marijuana flower in public.
People arrested or accused of possessing cocaine might ask, “how much coke is a felony?” Possessing controlled substances like cocaine is a felony in Minneapolis, MN. If found with 0 to 3 grams of coke, the crime will be treated as a fifth-degree felony, attracting penalties like $10,000 fines and up to 5 years in jail.