Aug: 02, 2012

Minnesota banker sentenced to prison, convicted of embezzlement

To the south of Minneapolis, in Jackson, Minnesota, a 66-year-old woman recently pled guilty to embezzlement. Whether it was because she pled guilty, the nature of her crime or her age, the judge was extremely lenient and only sentenced her to one year in jail. Embezzlement is a serious crime and often carries a considerable prison term, making it extremely important to work closely with an experienced white-collar criminal defense attorney.

Aug: 02, 2012

Federal government pushes Minnesota for new drunk driving laws

With the sheer number of anti-drunk driving campaigns on Minnesota televisions and radios, many people in Minneapolis would assume that Minnesota is one of the strictest states when it comes to driving while intoxicated. Surprisingly, it is not. Minnesota is one of 33 states that does not require people convicted for the first time of drunk driving to install an ignition interlock. Unless a driver has a blood alcohol content that is two times the legal limit or higher or is being convicted of a second or subsequent drunk driving offense, Minnesotans do not need to have these devices in their vehicles.

Aug: 02, 2012

Minneapolis Veterans Treatment Court needed in outstate Minnesota

Since Hennepin County launched its Veterans Treatment Court only two years ago, more than 100 veterans have appeared before the court to get the help they need instead of a lengthy prison sentence. The Minneapolis court has become a model and now advocates say the same type of court is needed in greater Minnesota as well. The point of the special court is to address the underlying issues veterans facing criminal charges struggle with and what ultimately brings them into the criminal justice system in the first place.

Jul: 02, 2012

26-year-old Minnesota man facing 20 years for drug crimes

Being charged with a serious crime is incredibly difficult, but facing 19 indictments is likely overwhelming, especially for a young person. What is even more difficult is trying to keep a cool head and rationally doing everything one can to clear one’s name. This is why it is so important to work with a strong criminal defense attorney who will help explain what options are available. Failing to do so could lead to a wrong move.

Apr: 01, 2012

Police charge minister with stealing from church

While it may not seem like a serious offense, stealing can have a much wider impact than just a conviction. Because theft crimes call into question your reliability and your trustworthiness, having a criminal record for theft makes it very difficult for employers, landlords and friends to trust you. It is also very easy for someone accused of a theft crime to say something that police can twist around and use against him or her at a trial, making it important to say nothing to police until you have spoken with your criminal defense attorney.

Nov: 01, 2011

Irish man disputes Minnesota criminal charges, fights extradition

If you have been charged with a sex crime, you know the damage a mere allegation can do to your life. Your reputation, your job, your family life and more could all be gone in a matter of moments once someone accuses you of a sex crime. Even if you are able to show that you were falsely accused or that the alleged victim is not credible, you may still have to work hard to rebuild people’s trust. It is extremely important that you work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer from the very moment someone accuses you of a sex crime in order to best prove your innocence and preserve your rights.

Nov: 01, 2011

Minnesota Court of Appeals overturns vehicular homicide verdict

When there is an error your criminal trial, it is important to work with your criminal defense attorney to file a timely appeal and argue why that error led the jury to believe you were guilty. Luckily for one man, the Minnesota Court of Appeals has recently ruled his conviction for vehicular homicide in the death of an ATV driver should be overturned. It granted the pickup driver a new trial because he was denied a fair trial when the jury, which heard evidence that he was drinking, was not told that the ATV driver was also under the influence of alcohol.

Oct: 01, 2011

Stillwater woman cleared of white collar crime

A woman from Stillwater, Minnesota was recently cleared of a white collar crime according to the woman’s attorney. The woman had been criminally charged in two states and was accused of writing checks with a forged signature. The woman was charged in Minnesota and South Dakota and her story demonstrates the complexities of identity theft.

Sep: 01, 2011

Need for interpreters in courtrooms increasing in Minnesota

As the amount of immigrants to the United States has increased since 2006, so too has the need for courtroom translators for defendants that do not speak English as a first language. In 2006, there were 5,177 hearings in Minnesota that required an interpreter. In 2010, there were 30,009 – many of them criminal defense hearings. According to one district judge, an unwitting admission of guilt due to a language barrier can send innocent people to jail, possibly opening the door for deportation.

Sep: 01, 2011

Development in criminal defense regarding cellphones

Recently, the California state legislature passed a bill that would require law-enforcement officers to obtain a warrant before searching an arrested person’s cellphone. While, the California law does not impact people who live in Minnesota, the law is central to a criminal defense discussion about information collection by law enforcement, electronic devices and search warrants.

Tag: Minnesota