If you are convicted of a felony, you face a sentence that can range anywhere from one year to life in prison. There may also be a fine that is specified by the laws in the state of Minnesota.

Felonies are prosecuted so aggressively because they are very serious criminal charges. Minnesota felony charges include murder, rape, assault, possession of narcotics, criminal sexual conduct, theft, and arson. Any time a felony is charged, it is the county attorney and not the city attorney that prosecutes. If the matter is particularly severe, the state Attorney General will become involved.

Minnesota Felony Court Process

Compared to a misdemeanor case, a felony case consists of more hearings. Once a person is arrested, they make an appearance at their bail hearing. Bail is set and then conditions regarding release are imposed. If the defendant is not able to post their own bail, they can secure a bond through a bondsman or simply remain in jail until their trial. While waiting on a trial, the arraignment hearing takes place. This hearing is to ensure that the defendant is aware of his or her rights and the details regarding the complaint.

The next hearing, or the omnibus hearing, provides the ability to challenge any evidence that may have been secured by the state in an illegal way. Once these issues are resolved, a pre-trial hearing is scheduled. This is the hearing in which negotiations occur between the defense and the prosecutor. This is where any plea bargains can be entered and a plea reached and placed on the record. If a plea is not reached, that is when the case makes it to trial. If a conviction occurs, there is a sentencing hearing that is scheduled in which a judge will hand down their sentence. The state will perform what is called a pre-sentence investigation in order to explore the defendant’s background and make a recommendation regarding what sentence the defendant should have.

How does a Minnesota Felony Conviction Affect One’s Life?

A felony conviction in Minnesota has dire consequences such as not being able to get a job, serve in the military, possess a firearm, vote, obtain student loans, and many other things. If you wish to have a felony conviction in Minnesota expunged, it is much more difficult to do so than with a misdemeanor. Only an experienced Minnesota defense attorney can handle expungement cases of this magnitude.

However, it is important to note that expungement can be quite difficult when it comes to a felony case. There has to be evidence that the felony record should not exist or that something went wrong during the trial that could prove the felony should not be on a person’s record. That is why it is important to have quality representation making sure that the felony can be removed.

Nevertheless, it is ideal to seek out the assistance of a Minnesota felony attorney to represent you in a way that will keep a felony off of your record. A felony can be so detrimental to your future that you will want to do all you can to prove that you are innocent.

A person convicted of a misdemeanor in Minnesota faces jail time of up to 90 days and a maximum fine of $1,000. Common misdemeanors in Minnesota include traffic violations, driving after revocation, and underage DWI. There are also non-motoring misdemeanor offenses in Minnesota that include a first time violation of an order for protection, fifth degree assault, low level theft charges, and the list goes on.

The Court Process

When a person is charged with a misdemeanor, a complaint or citation is issued with a court date automatically assigned. Some citations may be paid with a fine prior to the court date in order to avoid having to go to court. If the fine is not paid, it is important to show up to court and the fine may still apply if convicted.

The first court appearance is called an “arraignment” and is the time in which the defendant is informed of his or her rights. At this time the defendant may state that they are innocent or guilty. If a guilty plea is entered, the judge will impose a sentence right then and there. If the plea is not guilty, the case will be scheduled for a pre-trial conference. At the pre-trial conference, a resolution will be attempted. If no resolution can be reached, the case will be set for jury trial.

In a jury trial, a jury of 6 people will be chosen and both the defense and the State may present evidence in the case.

Minnesota Misdemeanor Sentencing

There are some instances in which a felony penalty may be imposed if the defendant has a prior record. For instance, an offender has two or more convictions for assault, a fifth degree assault could carry a felony sentence.

Also, theft crimes involving $200, but less than $500 are felonies if there has been at least one previous theft conviction.

Otherwise the sentence may include a fine, jail time, and other probationary conditions set forth by the judge.

How a Minnesota Defense Attorney Helps

When you or a family member has been charged with a misdemeanor, it pays to have the proper representation by your side. A Minnesota defense attorney knows the laws in Minnesota and can help in gathering evidence that will work in your favor, as well as provide an aggressive defense that will prove effective in a court of law.

Unfortunately, there are some individuals who try to represent themselves and are run over by the State because there are certain areas of the law that the defendant may not know about that could clear them in the case. Having a defense attorney in Minnesota can help with this issue.

So when faced with a misdemeanor, whether you feel you deserve it or not, it pays to know what the process is like, what the consequences are, and how important it is to ensure the proper legal representation is in place in order to achieve the best possible outcome.

Identity theft in Minnesota is referred to as an act in which another fraudulently steals money or obtains other benefits by stealing the identity of another. The Minnesota identity theft statutes state that anyone who possesses, transfers, or uses the identity of another with the intent to aid, commit, or abet any unlawful activity, is an identity thief. The maximum penalty allowed depends on the amount of financial gain they obtained during the theft. In addition to the fines and the penalties that are imposed by the judge, restitution must be made to the identity theft victim.

Penalties for Minnesota Identity Theft

The penalties of identity theft in Minnesota range from a misdemeanor to a felony that carries a 20-year sentence. Whatever losses were incurred by the victim will determine exactly what penalty must be paid by the identity thief. The number of direct victims involved also determines the penalty.

As for how loss is defined, it is defined as the expenses incurred on the part of the victim that lead to the value obtained by the offender. The monetary loss threshold will determine the penalty. For example, a loss of $250 carries a maximum penalty of a misdemeanor. If the amount of the loss is more than $35,000, then a 20-year felony is the penalty. Nonfinancial crimes that do not have any financial loss and involves only one victim will be punished as a misdemeanor as well.

If there is more than one victim involved, even if there is no monetary loss to the victims, the penalty will be raised to a felony. The personal property of the offender is subject to forfeiture so that it can be used to pay back the victim. The property may be seized immediately.

Signs of Minnesota Identity Theft

If you suspect that you are the victim of identity theft, there are some signs that you need to look out for:

• Unknown charges on your credit card statements
• Money taken out of your bank account
• Phone calls or emails thanking you for a purchase
• New open accounts and/or credit inquiries that you didn’t do appearing on your credit report

If you see any of these signs, then you may be a victim and will need legal representation to assist you.

Been Charged with Identity Theft?

If you have been charged with identity theft in Minnesota, you will need representation to defend you in the case. There are a number of reasons in which a person may be accused of identity theft and a number of reasons in which a person may be innocent of such a claim. Even if there is guilt, there are areas of the law in Minnesota that will enable a powerful defense. Only a Minnesota criminal defense attorney is going to have that kind of knowledge of Minnesota state law.

Nevertheless, whether you have been a victim or you have been accused, identity theft is a serious crime in the eyes of the law and yields strict punishment when it occurs.

A gross misdemeanor in Minnesota can land a person in jail for up to one year and carry a maximum fine of $3,000. As for what constitute gross misdemeanor charges in Minnesota, they include third degree DUI or DWI, second degree DUI or DWI, repeat violations of an order of protection, repeat assaults, and a number of other offenses as defined by state law.

In many of these cases the city attorney will handle the case, but it may be necessary that the county attorney prosecute in other counties around Minnesota. As for what a gross misdemeanor is, it is an offense that is more severe than a misdemeanor, but not as severe as a felony.

What happens in court?

For those who have been charged with a gross misdemeanor in Minnesota, it is important to understand the court process.

Once arrested, a bail appearance is required. This is where the individual’s bail is set and the judge puts release conditions into place. If the defendant is unable to make bail, he or she may secure a bond through a bondsman or can stay in jail until trial, if a trial is necessary.

After the bail appearance, it is then time for the arraignment hearing that confirms that the defendant understands his or her rights and that the complaint is understood. This leads into the next hearing called the “omnibus” hearing, which involves challenging the evidence and probate cause that has been secured by the state. It is the job of the defense to prove that all evidence was obtained in an unconstitutional way and move for the charges to be dropped.

Once the issues are taken care of at the omnibus hearing, a pre-trial appearance is made. This is where the defense and the prosecution negotiate with one another. A plea deal may be reached and the defendant can plead guilty or not guilty. If a plea of not guilty is given or a plea cannot be reached, the case is then scheduled for trial. If convicted at trial, a sentencing hearing is set so that a jail sentence and/or fines can be imposed upon the convicted individual.

There are situations in a Minnesota gross misdemeanor case where the defendant can prove that they are the perfect candidate for probation rather than jail time.

Consequences

A gross misdemeanor in Minnesota can have stiff consequences. These consequences involve having difficulty finding a job, finding a place to rent, acquiring insurance, and much more. In other words, having a gross misdemeanor on a record can impact a person for the rest of their life

If an individual wishes to have a gross misdemeanor expunged from their record, it can be quite difficult because one must be able to prove that they are innocent or that the evidence was gathered in an unconstitutional way. There are other windows within the law that a Minnesota criminal defense attorney may be able to use in these cases. It is actually ideal to have an attorney on the case from the beginning in order to reduce charges, reduce sentencing, or have the charges dropped all together.

Any time that someone interferes with any sort of work by law enforcement, federal or state investigators, prosecutors, regulatory agencies, or other officials, this is considered obstruction of justice in Minnesota. However, there are a number of other crimes in Minnesota that may fit under the category of obstruction of justice. Those crimes include:

• Fleeing a police officer
• Escape
• Witness tampering
• Interfering with a dead body
• Warning a subject that they are being investigated by the police

The following are the reasons why these acts are considered Minnesota obstruction of justice:

Fleeing a Police Officer

If an individual flees a police officer while in a motor vehicle or attempts to flee when the officer is acting lawfully, the perpetrator is guilty of obstruction of justice. They are interfering with the law being executed and this interference is a crime.

Escape

A person who escapes after being lawfully arrested, allows someone to escape when they have been lawfully arrested, escapes while under security in a hospital, escapes while on provisional discharge or when they have a pass, transfers an arrested person to another with the intent of escape, or any other act that results in the escape of a person who is lawfully in custody is guilty of obstruction of justice in Minnesota. This is also called “criminal escape” and is a serious crime.

Witness Tampering

Witnesses are useful in criminal trials or other trials when they must recall what it is they saw when a crime was committed. Any time that an individual threatens a witness in order to make them lie under oath, this is considered witness tampering. Under Minnesota state law, witness tampering is a form of obstruction of justice.

Interfering with a Dead Body

The scene of a death is considered a crime scene until proven otherwise. If an individual is caught interfering with the dead body, which consists of touching the body in any way or removing evidence from the body, this is considered interfering with a dead body. This interference can severely compromise a Minnesota criminal investigation. Interfering with a dead body in Minnesota may also consist of acts that are meant to mislead the coroner.

Warning a Subject under Investigation

If a person knows someone who is being investigated by the police and they warn that person that they are being investigated, this is obstruction. The point of an investigation is for the person being investigated to not know so that they can be caught in a guilty act. Even if the person being investigated knows about the investigation and details regarding the investigation are revealed to that party that should not be, that is also considered Minnesota obstruction of justice.

Any time that someone has been accused of obstruction of justice, it is important to employ the services of a Minnesota criminal defense attorney to gather evidence and either have the charges dismissed or reduced. This is a serious crime that can yield serious penalties that are based upon what the judge feels is appropriate.

If you are convicted of a felony, you face a sentence that can range anywhere from one year to life in prison. There may also be a fine that is specified by the laws in the state of Minnesota.

Felonies are prosecuted so aggressively because they are very serious criminal charges. Minnesota felony charges include murder, rape, assault, possession of narcotics, criminal sexual conduct, theft, and arson. Any time a felony is charged, it is the county attorney and not the city attorney that prosecutes. If the matter is particularly severe, the state Attorney General will become involved.

Minnesota Felony Court Process

Compared to a misdemeanor case, a felony case consists of more hearings. Once a person is arrested, they make an appearance at their bail hearing. Bail is set and then conditions regarding release are imposed. If the defendant is not able to post their own bail, they can secure a bond through a bondsman or simply remain in jail until their trial. While waiting on a trial, the arraignment hearing takes place. This hearing is to ensure that the defendant is aware of his or her rights and the details regarding the complaint.

The next hearing, or the omnibus hearing, provides the ability to challenge any evidence that may have been secured by the state in an illegal way. Once these issues are resolved, a pre-trial hearing is scheduled. This is the hearing in which negotiations occur between the defense and the prosecutor. This is where any plea bargains can be entered and a plea reached and placed on the record. If a plea is not reached, that is when the case makes it to trial. If a conviction occurs, there is a sentencing hearing that is scheduled in which a judge will hand down their sentence. The state will perform what is called a pre-sentence investigation in order to explore the defendant’s background and make a recommendation regarding what sentence the defendant should have.

How does a Minnesota Felony Conviction Affect One’s Life?

A felony conviction in Minnesota has dire consequences such as not being able to get a job, serve in the military, possess a firearm, vote, obtain student loans, and many other things. If you wish to have a felony conviction in Minnesota expunged, it is much more difficult to do so than with a misdemeanor. Only an experienced Minnesota criminal defense attorney can handle expungement cases of this magnitude.

However, it is important to note that expungement can be quite difficult when it comes to a felony case. There has to be evidence that the felony record should not exist or that something went wrong during the trial that could prove the felony should not be on a person’s record. That is why it is important to have quality representation making sure that the felony can be removed.

Nevertheless, it is ideal to seek out the assistance of a Minnesota felony attorney to represent you in a way that will keep a felony off of your record. A felony can be so detrimental to your future that you will want to do all you can to prove that you are innocent.

A person convicted of a misdemeanor in Minnesota faces jail time of up to 90 days and a maximum fine of $1,000. Common misdemeanors in Minnesota include traffic violations, driving after revocation, and underage DWI. There are also non-motoring misdemeanor offenses in Minnesota that include a first time violation of an order for protection, fifth degree assault, low level theft charges, and the list goes on.

The Court Process

When a person is charged with a misdemeanor, a complaint or citation is issued with a court date automatically assigned. Some citations may be paid with a fine prior to the court date in order to avoid having to go to court. If the fine is not paid, it is important to show up to court and the fine may still apply if convicted.

The first court appearance is called an “arraignment” and is the time in which the defendant is informed of his or her rights. At this time the defendant may state that they are innocent or guilty. If a guilty plea is entered, the judge will impose a sentence right then and there. If the plea is not guilty, the case will be scheduled for a pre-trial conference. At the pre-trial conference, a resolution will be attempted. If no resolution can be reached, the case will be set for jury trial.

In a jury trial, a jury of 6 people will be chosen and both the defense and the State may present evidence in the case.

Minnesota Misdemeanor Sentencing

There are some instances in which a felony penalty may be imposed if the defendant has a prior record. For instance, an offender has two or more convictions for assault, a fifth degree assault could carry a felony sentence.

Also, theft crimes involving $200, but less than $500 are felonies if there has been at least one previous theft conviction.

Otherwise the sentence may include a fine, jail time, and other probationary conditions set forth by the judge.

How a Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney Helps

When you or a family member has been charged with a misdemeanor, it pays to have the proper representation by your side. A Minnesota defense attorney knows the laws in Minnesota and can help in gathering evidence that will work in your favor, as well as provide an aggressive defense that will prove effective in a court of law.

Unfortunately, there are some individuals who try to represent themselves and are run over by the State because there are certain areas of the law that the defendant may not know about that could clear them in the case. Having a defense attorney in Minnesota can help with this issue.

So when faced with a misdemeanor, whether you feel you deserve it or not, it pays to know what the process is like, what the consequences are, and how important it is to ensure the proper legal representation is in place in order to achieve the best possible outcome.