Blog Posts in August, 2014

Penalties For First Degree Assault in Minnesota

Misunderstandings happen, many of which result in criminal charges for assault. But there are varying degrees of assault under Minnesota law. The line separating these offenses can be thin and hard to pin down. So, when does a action rise to the level of First Degree Assault? First Degree Assault is the most serious level of Assault under Minnesota law. This type of Assault only occurs in a few ...

Minnesota's DWI Test Refusal Law Is Unconstitutional

Recently the Minnesota Court of Appeals determined that it is unconstitutional to charge someone with a crime for refusing to submit to a DWI blood test when police officers do not have a warrant. Although the Court did not say so explicitly, the same reasoning will likely apply to DWI urine tests. Minnesota’s DWI test-refusal statute makes it a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test of ...

Charged With a Hit-And-Run in Minnesota?

Hit and run refers to the crime of fleeing the scene of an accident . The crime can be categorized either as a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the facts of the case. Both offenses carry serious consequences, and the line between the two can be relatively thin. Felony hit and run occurs when the accident results in the victim receiving lasting physical damage or death. If you are found guilty ...

Minnesota Kidnapping Laws and Penalties

When most people think of kidnapping, they picture terrifying cases like that of Elizabeth Smart, in which a child disappears into the night, carried off by an unknown stranger. In reality, most kidnapping cases are not so horrifying, though they are legally complicated. Although it is true that kidnapping at the hands of a stranger does happen, it’s more often the case that when a couple is ...