Sexual Assault Defense Lawyer in Minneapolis
Are you accused of sexual assault or criminal sexual conduct in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
A sexual assault allegation can put your freedom, reputation, career, professional license, relationships, and future at risk. The steps you take now matter. Before answering questions, consenting to a search of your phone or other property, or trying to explain what happened, speak with an experienced Minneapolis sexual assault defense lawyer.
We defend people accused of serious crimes throughout Minneapolis and Minnesota. Our founding attorney, Max Keller, is a former Minnesota prosecutor who has focused on criminal defense since 2004. We have seen criminal cases from multiple sides, as prosecutors, appellate law clerks, and defense lawyers preparing cases for trial. That experience helps us recognize problems in the State’s case that may not be obvious from the police reports alone.
When you contact our firm, we can begin reviewing the allegations, preserving evidence, examining how the investigation was conducted, and determining what must be done to protect you.
Call Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys at (952) 913-1421 for a FREE consultation. We are available 24/7.
“In sexual assault cases, the first police report rarely tells the whole story. Text messages, witness accounts, timelines, and what happened before and after the alleged encounter can completely change how the evidence looks.”
We provide free initial consultations to all clients. To schedule an appointment, contact us Today.
What Is Considered Sexual Assault in Minnesota?
Minnesota law does not use “sexual assault” as the name of a single criminal charge. Conduct commonly described as sexual assault or rape is generally prosecuted under Minnesota’s criminal sexual conduct laws. Depending on the circumstances, an allegation may involve sexual penetration or sexual contact and issues involving consent, force or coercion, age, incapacitation, injury, or position of authority.
The specific criminal sexual conduct charge depends on what allegedly occurred and the circumstances surrounding it. Minnesota divides criminal sexual conduct offenses into five degrees, with first-degree charges among the most serious.
An accusation does not mean the allegations have been proven. The State still has the burden of proving each element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
We provide free initial consultations to all clients. To schedule an appointment, contact us Today.
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What Should You Do If You Are Accused of Sexual Assault?
What you say and do after learning about an allegation can affect the evidence against you and the direction of your case. This is true even if you have not been arrested or formally charged.
Do Not Answer Questions About the Allegation Without a Lawyer
You may believe that explaining what happened will clear up a misunderstanding. Statements made to investigators, however, can become evidence.
If police want to question you about a sexual assault allegation, clearly state that you want to speak with an attorney before answering questions about the case. Do not try to talk your way out of the investigation on your own.
Do Not Contact the Person Who Accused You
Do not call, text message, confront, or attempt to persuade the person who made the allegation to change or withdraw it. Do not ask someone else to contact that person on your behalf.
There may also be a no-contact order or other restriction prohibiting communication.
Preserve Potential Evidence
Save relevant text messages, emails, direct messages, photographs, videos, receipts, location records, and other information. Write down the names of people who may have relevant information and important details while they are still fresh in your memory. Give that information to your attorney rather than contacting potential witnesses yourself.
Do not delete, edit, conceal, alter, or destroy anything that could relate to the allegation.
Do Not Discuss the Case on Social Media
Avoid posting about the accusation, the person who accused you, the investigation, or your version of events. Posts, messages, photographs, and comments may be preserved and reviewed as evidence.
Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney Early
Early action can matter. Digital evidence can disappear, surveillance footage can be overwritten, and witnesses may become more difficult to locate. The sooner your attorney becomes involved, the sooner the defense can begin evaluating the allegation and preserving evidence.
If you have been accused of sexual assault or contacted by investigators, call Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys at (952) 913-1421 for immediate help.
How Our Lawyers Investigate Sexual Assault Allegations
Sexual assault cases can depend heavily on statements, timelines, digital communications, witness accounts, and the circumstances surrounding the alleged encounter. We do not limit our review to the initial accusation or police report.
Our attorneys examine how the investigation was conducted, what the people involved said, how evidence was obtained, and whether law enforcement followed the rules governing searches, seizures, and questioning.
Depending on the allegations, we may review police reports, recorded interviews, text messages, social media communications, photographs, videos, surveillance footage, location information, witness statements, medical or forensic evidence, search warrants, and evidence obtained from electronic devices.
We look for inconsistencies, missing context, unreliable statements, investigative mistakes, constitutional violations, and evidence that may contradict or weaken the prosecution’s theory.
Your defense strategy should reflect the facts of your case. That may involve challenging whether the State can prove an element of the charge, disputing the prosecution’s interpretation of the evidence, seeking suppression of unlawfully obtained evidence, negotiating for a more favorable resolution, or preparing to defend you at trial.
Do not assume that the offense described by a detective, another person, or even an initial police report will necessarily be the charge ultimately filed. The specific facts and evidence determine what the State may be able to charge and prove.
What If You Have Not Been Charged Yet?
You do not have to wait for an arrest or formal criminal charge to speak with a defense lawyer. In fact, the period before charges are filed can be one of the most important stages of a sexual assault investigation.
You may first learn about an investigation when a detective calls and asks to speak with you, law enforcement seeks access to your phone or other property, officers execute a search warrant, or someone tells you that an allegation has been made.
A Detective Wants to Interview You
A request to “tell your side” may sound informal, but an interview can become part of the evidence in the case. Even statements you believe are helpful can be compared with other evidence or used to challenge your account later.
Speak with a defense attorney before agreeing to interview about the allegation.
Police Want to Search Your Phone or Property
Phones can contain text messages, photographs, location information, app data, internet history, and other highly personal information. If investigators ask you to consent to a search, you can speak with an attorney before deciding how to respond.
If police already have a search warrant, your attorney can examine the warrant, its scope, how it was obtained, and how the search was conducted.
We Can Begin Working Before a Charging Decision
We begin evaluating the investigation before a case reaches court. Depending on the circumstances, that may include preserving evidence, communicating with investigators, evaluating search warrants, identifying witnesses, reviewing available records, and advising you about requests from law enforcement.
No lawyer can promise that early involvement will prevent charges. But waiting until after an arrest can mean losing valuable time to protect evidence and prepare for what comes next.
If you learn that you are under investigation, call Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys at (952) 913-1421 before speaking with investigators.
What If the Sexual Contact Was Consensual?
Consent to sexual contact can be a central issue in some sexual assault cases. When the people involved give different accounts of what happened, the investigation may turn on much more than one person’s description of the encounter.
We will examine the circumstances before, during, and after the alleged incident and compare each person’s account with the available evidence.
Text Messages and Digital Communications
Texts, direct messages, dating-app conversations, photographs, and other communications may provide important context. Depending on when they were sent and what they contain, communications before or after an encounter may support or contradict statements made during an investigation.
Digital evidence should be evaluated in context. A single message or screenshot may not tell the entire story.
Witnesses and Timelines
People who saw the individuals before or after an alleged encounter may have information about their interactions, statements, behavior, or the sequence of events.
Receipts, surveillance footage, photographs, location information, rideshare records, and other records may also help establish a timeline and test whether different accounts are consistent with objective evidence.
Medical and Forensic Evidence
Medical examinations and forensic evidence can become important in some sexual assault investigations. The significance of that evidence depends on what it actually establishes and how it relates to the allegations.
We may examine how evidence was collected, tested, preserved, interpreted, and presented, as well as whether the conclusions drawn from it are supported by the underlying facts.
What Are the Penalties for Sexual Assault in Minnesota?
Because “sexual assault” can refer to several different criminal sexual conduct charges in Minnesota, there is no single penalty that applies to every case. The possible consequences depend on the degree of criminal sexual conduct charged, the specific allegations, the defendant’s criminal history, and other circumstances that may affect sentencing.
A conviction can carry serious consequences, including incarceration, fines, probation or supervised release, and restrictions that can continue long after the criminal case is over. Certain criminal sexual conduct cases can also trigger Minnesota’s predatory offender registration requirements.
The charge matters. So does the evidence supporting it. Before making decisions about a plea or how to defend the case, we look at what the State can actually prove, the penalties you could face, and the consequences of each available option.
FAQs About Minneapolis Sexual Assault Cases
Can You Be Charged With Sexual Assault Without DNA or Physical Evidence?
Yes. Prosecutors do not necessarily need DNA or other physical evidence to file a criminal sexual conduct charge. A case may be based on statements, witness testimony, text messages, photographs, electronic records, medical evidence, circumstantial evidence, or other information.
That does not mean that the accusation is enough to prove the case. We examine what evidence actually supports the allegation, what may contradict it, and whether the State can prove every element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
Can Police Search My Phone During a Sexual Assault Investigation?
Police may ask you to consent to a search or may seek a search warrant. If investigators ask for your phone, talk to us before consenting to a search.
If police already have a warrant, we can examine what the warrant authorizes, how it was obtained, whether officers stayed within its scope, and whether there are grounds to challenge the search or evidence obtained from it.
Do not delete messages, photographs, accounts, or other potential evidence from your phone.
What If the Person Accusing Me Changes Their Story?
Changes and inconsistencies in someone’s account can be important, but they do not automatically cause a case to be dismissed.
We compare police reports, recorded interviews, text messages, witness accounts, timelines, physical or digital evidence, and other available information to determine whether the accounts are consistent and whether the evidence supports what the State claims happened.
Will I Have to Register as a Predatory Offender?
Certain criminal sexual conduct convictions and other qualifying cases can require predatory offender registration in Minnesota. Whether registration applies depends on the charge, the outcome of the case, and other circumstances.
Because registration can have serious long-term consequences, we consider it when evaluating the case and any proposed plea agreement, not after you have already made a decision.
Max is an outstanding lawyer and took me through the difficult legal system with compassion and genuine care.
Why Hire Us to Defend You Against a Sexual Assault Allegation?
When you are choosing a lawyer for a sexual assault case, experience defending serious criminal allegations matters. We know how these cases are investigated, how prosecutors evaluate the evidence, and how important details can change what the evidence actually shows.
Our founding attorney, Max Keller, is a former Minnesota prosecutor who has focused on criminal defense since 2004. He has also worked inside Minnesota’s appellate courts, handled criminal appeals, and defended clients against serious felony charges, including criminal sexual conduct allegations.
Former Prosecutorial Experience Helps Us See the Case From Both Sides
Max’s former prosecutorial experience gives our firm insight into how prosecutors evaluate evidence, prepare witnesses, and decide how to move a case forward. We use that perspective to look for weaknesses, unanswered questions, inconsistencies, and evidence that does not fit the prosecution’s theory.
We Start Building Your Defense Early
At Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys, we do not wait until trial to start preparing your defense. We investigate the allegations, preserve evidence, review what law enforcement did, and prepare for what may come next.
Some cases can be resolved without a trial. Others cannot. Either way, we want to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the case against you before you have to make important decisions about your future.
We Have Defended Clients Accused of Criminal Sexual Conduct
We have defended clients accused of criminal sexual conduct and obtained dismissals in these cases. Our experience includes cases involving disputed consent, conflicting accounts, digital communications, and other evidence that changed how the allegations looked once the full story came to light.
1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct charges against our client R.V. in Ramsey County were dismissed when we showed the government that the Complainant was not believable. This meant that our client avoided a presumptive sentence of 12 years in prison. ...
Continue ReadingCriminal Sexual Conduct
J.H. Doge Co. Criminal Sexual Conduct in the 3rd Degree Dismissed when we provided evidence that our client was innocent. ...
Continue ReadingCase Dismissed
M.O. Kandiyohi Co., felony criminal sexual conduct in the Second Degree dismissed ...
Continue ReadingReduced Sentencing
ANOKA CO.—Our client plead guilty to criminal sexual conduct. Even though the prosecutor wanted to send the client to prison for 12 years, Mr. Keller kept him out of prison, ...
Continue ReadingReduced Sentence
Rice Co.—Mr. Keller’s client plead guilty to 1st degree criminal sexual conduct for something that happened when the client was a minor many years ago. The prosecutor wanted to send the client to prison for 12 years, ...
Continue ReadingTalk to a Minneapolis Sexual Assault Defense Lawyer
If you have been accused of sexual assault, contacted by a detective, or charged with criminal sexual conduct, what you do next matters. Do not wait for the investigation or criminal case to move forward without knowing how to protect yourself.
Call Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys at (952) 913-1421 for a FREE consultation. We are available 24/7.