Man indicted in federal court for alleged drunk driving wreck in Minnesota

The United States Department of Justice says that a Northern Minnesota man has been indicted in federal court on involuntary manslaughter charges after he was allegedly involved in a fatal accident. The crash was reported on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Northern Minnesota last October. Investigators believe that the Blackduck, Minnesota man was driving drunk on Minnesota highway 15 when he lost control of his car. A female passenger in the vehicle was killed in the wreck.

Criminal allegations that arise on federal lands may fall under the jurisdiction of federal officials and the U.S. attorney’s office. The Red Lake Reservation is under federal jurisdiction. As a result, the Red Lake Tribal Police Department joined with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in looking into the incident.

The Blackduck man was indicted on two counts of involuntary manslaughter last week. While alleged drunk driving car accidents in Minnesota involving serious injury or death are typically prosecuted under Minnesota Criminal Vehicular Operation or Homicide statute, the highway 15 wreck occurred on land under the jurisdiction of federal officials. The man faces up to eight years in federal prison on each of the two involuntary manslaughter counts.

Generally, the procedures and rules of court that apply in federal court may differ in various ways from the rules in Minnesota state courts. Not all criminal defense lawyers practice in both Minnesota state courts and federal courts. A person accused of a federal crime has the right to a criminal defense and should consider speaking with legal counsel admitted in federal court for assistance in developing a criminal defense.

Source: St Paul Pioneer Press, “Northern Minnesota: Blackduck man charged with DWI-related crash death,” Bemidji Pioneer, March 25, 2013

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

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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.
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