FRAMED (When Innocent People Take the Fall)

People who are framed for crimes they didn’t commit often spend years in prison if the truth is not revealed and accepted in a court of law.

Taking the Fall for a Crime

Unfortunately, innocent individuals are sometimes framed by police or others for crimes they did not commit, most often for drug crimes or violent offenses. In most cases, police officers who are investigating a crime scene follow the evidence when making an arrest on a likely suspect. Although police investigators do make mistakes, there are sometimes other people involved in the crime or the criminal investigation who manipulate, tamper with, or falsify evidence. When this occurs and evidence points to a specific person, police officers are more likely to arrest and charge that person, even if he is the wrong suspect and an innocent person.

There are numerous reports across the country about innocent people framed for crimes they didn’t commit. Some of them have spent years in prison, even though they were innocent:

In Texas, a man was framed for the murder of a Dallas police officer. In 1977, he was convicted of the crime and sentenced to die. He served 12 years in prison before the Supreme Court gave him a stay of execution, just three days before his scheduled execution. Ten years later, another man confessed to the murder and the convicted man was freed.

In Minnesota, lawyer Matt Kostolnik was framed for child pornography distribution and death threats against Joe Biden and other public officials sent from his email account. Although he swore he was innocent, a federal investigation was launched. Kostolnik hired a forensic computer scientist who discovered that his email account had been hacked. The real suspect turned out to be a neighbor with a grudge. He was arrested and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Over the years, there have been many reports of innocent people framed or wrongly convicted of criminal offenses. Once arrested for a crime, it can be difficult to prove innocence. Police officers are expected to conduct themselves honestly and professionally. When a suspect has prior arrests or criminal convictions, it can be tough to convince a jury that the person was framed by planted or mishandled evidence.

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

Getting falsely accused of domestic violence in Minnesota may put you at risk of losing your job, custody of your children, or even your home. You may face criminal charges and the accusation may damage your reputation in the community, as people will now view you as an abuser. False domestic violence accusations often happen when couples are in a contentious relationship with a risk of divorce.
The top reasons for license suspension in Minnesota include driving under the influence of alcohol, repeated traffic violations, and failure to appear in court or pay fines. Failure to pay child support, criminal convictions and felonies, medical conditions/disabilities, and drag racing can also lead to license suspension. The suspension takes away your driving privileges, preventing you from driving legally.
Motorists arrested for allegedly driving while impaired might wonder, “Can you refuse a breathalyzer?” In Minnesota, the implied consent law requires a person licensed to drive, control, or operate a vehicle to agree to a chemical test to check for alcohol or other intoxicants in that person’s body. Refusing to submit to a breathalyzer or another chemical test is a crime, often charged as a gross misdemeanor.