Golden Valley man pulled over for speeding faces DWI and drug charges

A Minnesota State trooper says that he clocked a car driving six miles over the speed limit on 394 near Penn Avenue November 26. The driver reportedly took the Penn Avenue North exit, but the trooper claims that the driver failed to use a turn signal before exiting the freeway. The alleged minor traffic infractions pale in comparison to the gross misdemeanor DWI and the felony drug charges that the driver now faces after the so-called routine traffic stop.

The trooper claims that he could smell alcohol during the stop. Bloodshot, watery eyes reportedly also were among the trooper’s alleged observations. The trooper says that the driver did poorly on field sobriety tests and the 55-year-old Golden Valley, Minnesota man was arrested on suspicion of DWI. Hennepin County authorities have charged the man with a gross misdemeanor DWI charge.

However, while at the Hennepin County Jail, prosecutors claim that the Golden Valley man emptied his pockets as he was being checked into the jail. As he turned over his personal belongings during the booking process, authorities claim that the man pulled out a plastic bag containing 0.15 grams of crack cocaine. Hennepin County officials charged the man with fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance.

The drug charge carries a maximum statutory sentence of up to five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Gross misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in jail and up to a $3,000 fine. The Golden Valley man was later released on $30,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Hennepin County District Court in late January.

Source: Golden Valley Patch, “Golden Valley Man, 55, Charged with Possession of Crack Cocaine,” Betsy Sundquist, Dec. 11, 2012

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

A Santa Clara University study shows that over one million people in Minnesota have criminal records. In Minneapolis alone, 5,713 crimes are reported annually within an area of 100,000 residents. These criminal cases require the defendants to present evidence challenging the prosecutor's narrative. So, when does the defense present evidence in a criminal case? Your defense team presents evidence at the trial phase right after the prosecution team completes outlining the facts it intends to prove and how its evidence will prove you guilty.
Media attention and public scrutiny after conviction can hurt your personal and professional reputation, especially if your criminal case is high-profile. One of the questions you may ask is: How do I handle media attention and public scrutiny after conviction in Minnesota? You can do that by familiarizing yourself with your rights, having a witness present during a media interview, minimizing media consumption, and taking a break from social media. Building a strong support system and working closely with a criminal defense lawyer can help you handle or minimize the impact of public scrutiny.
The timeline for filing pre-trial motions in a criminal case in Minnesota varies with the type of motion. A motion related to the discovery of evidence or dismissal of a criminal case must be filed at least three days before the Omnibus Hearing. The prosecution is then allowed to respond to the motions, and the court sets the timeline for these responses.