Child Molestation Attorney in Minneapolis

Over 30 Years of Combined Experience Defending Serious Criminal Charges

Few situations are more frightening than learning that you or someone you love is being accused of a sexual offense involving a child. In a moment, your freedom, your family relationships, and your reputation in the community can all feel at risk. At Brockton D. Hunter P.A., our child molestation attorneys in Minneapolis defend people facing child sex offense allegations, and we understand how high the stakes are.

Our firm is a veteran-led Minneapolis criminal defense practice that has focused on protecting individuals accused of serious crimes under Minnesota and federal law since 2010. Our attorneys bring more than 30 years of combined criminal defense experience to every case, and we regularly handle complex, high-stakes felonies. If you need a child molestation lawyer in Minneapolis who will take your situation seriously, we’re ready to talk with you in a free consultation.

We know this is likely your first time dealing with the criminal justice system and that you may feel overwhelmed, ashamed, and unsure where to turn. Our goal is to provide steady guidance, clear information, and determined advocacy so you can make informed decisions about your future.

To discuss your situation with a dedicated child molestation attorney in Minneapolis, call (612) 979-1112 or contact us online today.

Established Minneapolis Trial Defense for Child Molestation Charges

When you’re accused of a crime involving a child, you can’t afford to work with an attorney who’s learning as they go. These cases involve complex laws, sensitive evidence, and intense emotions, and they often move quickly in the courts. Our attorneys have more than three decades of combined criminal defense experience and have represented clients in Minnesota courts since our firm opened in 2010.

Our team is led by a Minneapolis criminal defense attorney who holds a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating. Our attorneys have also been selected to the Minnesota Super Lawyers® list every year since 2011, and our leadership includes a former President of the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

We bring that experience to cases involving child molestation accusations. Over the years, our seasoned trial attorneys have secured charge reductions, case dismissals, and not guilty verdicts in many serious matters. While past results can’t predict future outcomes, they demonstrate our ability to examine the details, challenge the state’s case, and prepare a defense for negotiations, motion hearings, or trial.

We pair that trial experience with responsive communication and tailored advocacy. Our attorneys take the time to listen to your side of the story, answer your questions, and explain each step of the process. You aren’t just a file to us. You’re a person facing one of the most difficult experiences of your life, and we treat you with the respect and attention that reality deserves.

Minnesota Child Molestation Charges & Criminal Sexual Conduct Laws

Minnesota doesn’t define one criminal offense called child molestation. Prosecutors generally bring these allegations under the state’s criminal sexual conduct statutes, primarily Minnesota Statutes sections 609.342 through 609.3451. The charge's degree depends on the alleged conduct and specific statutory factors, not simply the label used in an investigation or news report.

The analysis can turn on the child’s age, the accused person’s age, the age difference between them, and whether the allegation involves sexual contact or penetration. A familial relationship, position of authority, significant relationship, force, coercion, injury, prior convictions, or other circumstances may also affect which statute applies. We review the actual allegations and statutory elements rather than treating every accusation as the same type of case.

Minnesota’s five criminal sexual conduct degrees include:

• First-degree criminal sexual conduct: Minnesota Statutes section 609.342 covers, among other circumstances, sexual penetration involving a person under 18 and certain sexual contact involving a person under 14. The statutory maximum is 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $40,000, or both, although the potential sentence in an individual case depends on the applicable statute and sentencing rules.
• Second-degree criminal sexual conduct: Section 609.343 addresses specified sexual contact involving a person under 18. It carries a statutory maximum of 25 years in prison, a fine of up to $35,000, or both.
• Third-degree criminal sexual conduct: Section 609.344 covers specified allegations of sexual penetration involving a person under 18. It generally carries a statutory maximum of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $30,000, or both, with a lower maximum for a specified age-gap circumstance.
• Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct: Section 609.345 addresses specified sexual contact involving a person under 18. The statutory maximum is generally 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.
• Fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct: Section 609.3451 includes specified nonconsensual sexual conduct and certain conduct in the presence of a minor under 16. Gross misdemeanor and felony provisions may apply depending on the subsection, conduct, and prior convictions.

These figures are statutory maximums, not predictions of what would happen in a particular case. Sentencing exposure may also involve the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines, criminal history, mandatory sentencing provisions, conditional release, probation conditions, and predatory offender registration. Registration depends on the offense of conviction and the requirements of Minnesota Statutes section 243.166.

Even before a conviction, an allegation can lead to a child protection investigation, no-contact restrictions, separation from children, employment concerns, and public scrutiny. Cases often begin with a report from a child, parent, teacher, medical provider, or another adult. That report may lead to law enforcement interviews, a forensic interview conducted through a structured process, home visits, digital evidence collection, or requests to question the accused.

Many Minneapolis cases involving sexual allegations against children proceed through Hennepin County and may be handled as serious sex crimes. The consequences can extend beyond the courtroom to housing, employment, family relationships, and a person’s role as a parent or caregiver. An allegation isn’t a conviction, and the appropriate response depends on the charged statute, available evidence, and circumstances of the investigation.

What to Do After a Child Sex Offense Allegation

When you first learn that you’re under investigation or that charges may be coming, it’s natural to want to explain yourself. You may feel that if you just talk to the officer, the social worker, or the child’s family, they’ll understand your side of the story. Unfortunately, attempts to explain can easily be misunderstood or misused in a criminal case.

One of the most important steps you can take is to avoid speaking with police, child protection workers, or investigators about the allegations without first obtaining legal advice. Officers and agency staff are gathering information that may become part of a criminal case. Even innocent people can say things under stress that are later quoted out of context or treated as admissions.

It’s also critical not to contact the complainant or the complainant’s family about the allegations, even if you feel hurt or betrayed. Avoid posting about the situation on social media. Attempts to reach out can be interpreted as intimidation or witness tampering, and online statements rarely help a defense.

Until you receive case-specific legal advice:

• Don’t discuss the allegations with investigators without first speaking with an attorney.
• Don’t contact the complainant or members of the complainant’s family about the case.
• Don’t delete or alter text messages, emails, direct messages, recordings, photographs, or account data.
• Don’t post about the allegations or investigation on social media.
• Follow every no-contact order, release condition, subpoena, and court directive as written.

Preserve any texts, emails, social media conversations, or other records that could clarify the relationship or timeline so our attorneys can review the full picture and determine what may be relevant to your defense.

Finally, contact a qualified defense firm as soon as you can. Early involvement allows us to advise you about police or child protection contact and begin reviewing available information before formal charges are filed. At Brockton D. Hunter P.A., we offer free, confidential consultations subject to applicable law and professional obligations.

How We Examine Child Molestation Allegations

Every case is different, but serious child sex offense allegations require careful, methodical defense work. When we take on this kind of case, we begin by gathering and reviewing all available evidence, including reports, witness statements, recorded interviews, digital communications, and any forensic or medical records. We look for what the state has, what may be missing, and where important questions haven’t been asked.

Recorded Statements & Forensic Interviews

Allegations involving children often depend heavily on statements and memories. A forensic interview is a structured process used to gather information from a child, but its circumstances may still become relevant in litigation. Our attorneys pay close attention to the timing and wording of questions, how many interviews occurred, whether accounts changed, and whether other adults may have influenced the information provided.

We also compare recorded interviews with reports, witness accounts, digital records, and other available evidence. Inconsistencies don’t automatically resolve a case, but they can affect how the prosecution’s evidence is evaluated. We examine possible corroboration, missing records, competing timelines, and whether statements were summarized accurately.

Digital, Medical & Forensic Evidence

Texts, emails, direct messages, photographs, location information, account records, and device data may become relevant depending on the allegations. Our review considers reliability, completeness, context, and how investigators obtained the material. We don’t assume that a digital record proves what either side claims without examining the underlying information.

When medical or forensic material exists, we review what it does and doesn’t establish within the facts of the case. We also examine reports, collection procedures, and the connection between the material and the conduct alleged. No single type of evidence appears in every case, so the defense strategy must be built around the actual record.

Constitutional Rights & Pretrial Motions

We examine whether your constitutional rights were respected during searches, seizures, questioning, identification procedures, and evidence collection. This includes reviewing warrants, the scope of any search, custodial questioning, and whether required Miranda warnings were given. When evidence was obtained unlawfully or shouldn’t be admitted, we can raise the issue through appropriate pretrial motions.

Negotiations, Trial & Other Case Paths

Throughout this process, we prepare for negotiations, motion hearings, and trial when appropriate. Some matters remain under investigation without immediate charges. Others may involve contested motions, plea discussions, a jury trial, or post-conviction litigation depending on the procedural posture and facts.

We don’t build a defense in a vacuum. We work closely with you to understand your history, relationships, and any personal circumstances that may matter in your case. Over the years, our trial attorneys have secured charge reductions, dismissals, and not guilty verdicts in serious criminal matters, although no past result predicts the outcome of another case.

Defense Considerations for Veterans & Service Members

As a veteran-led firm, we have a particular commitment to defending service members and former service members who find themselves accused of crimes, including sex offenses involving children. We know that military life brings unique stresses, from deployments and combat exposure to family separations and service-related injuries. When a veteran faces criminal charges, those experiences may become relevant to case preparation, negotiations, mitigation, or sentencing when supported by the facts and applicable law.

Our attorneys are veterans themselves and have been involved in efforts to improve how the legal system treats veterans with service-related psychological injuries. We have contributed to the development of Minnesota laws that favor treatment over incarceration for veterans in certain situations. That work informs how we raise service-related issues in appropriate cases and advocate for consideration of the full context of a veteran’s life.

In a child sex offense case, we look carefully at how your military history, mental health, and current struggles intersect with the allegations. When appropriate, we may present information about post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or other service-related conditions during negotiations or sentencing advocacy. Those circumstances don’t replace the elements of the charged offense, but they may be relevant at particular stages.

We also understand the added concerns veterans carry, including potential effects on a military career, security clearance, or Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. Those matters may involve systems outside the criminal court, so their consequences depend on separate rules and individual circumstances. We keep them in mind as we counsel you about possible paths through the criminal case.

Stages of a Child Molestation Case in Minneapolis

Many child molestation cases in Minneapolis proceed through Hennepin County District Court, although the proper venue depends on where the alleged conduct occurred and how the case is charged. A matter may begin with a report, law enforcement investigation, child protection involvement, arrest, or summons. The timing and sequence vary with the allegations, evidence, motions, and court schedule.

Investigation & Charging

Law enforcement and child protection agencies may interview the child and other witnesses before any arrest occurs. Investigators may also seek digital records, execute a search warrant, or request an interview with the accused. If prosecutors believe the available evidence establishes probable cause, meaning a reasonable basis to believe an offense occurred and the accused committed it, they may file charges.

First Appearance & Release Conditions

The first court appearance may address the charges, legal representation, and conditions of release. Depending on the case, the court may consider bail, no-contact restrictions, travel limitations, or conditions affecting where a person can live and whom they can see. Any release condition must be followed unless and until the court changes it.

Discovery & Omnibus Proceedings

During the pretrial phase, the defense obtains and reviews discovery, which is the evidence and information disclosed by the prosecution. This can include police reports, recordings, witness statements, digital evidence, medical or forensic material, and other records. We use that review to identify factual disputes, investigate missing context, and evaluate potential motions.

In a Minnesota felony case, an omnibus hearing is a pretrial proceeding that can address probable cause and other legal issues. The defense may challenge evidence, litigate constitutional questions, or address discovery disputes through omnibus proceedings and related motion hearings. The issues presented depend on what occurred during the investigation and what evidence the prosecution intends to use.

Negotiations & Jury Trial

Pretrial conferences may involve scheduling, motions, and possible resolution discussions. If the case doesn’t resolve through negotiations or dismissal, it may proceed to a jury trial. At trial, the prosecution bears the burden of proving every element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt.

Jurors can bring strong emotions to allegations involving children, so the presentation of evidence must be thoughtful and precise. Our attorneys have extensive trial experience in Minnesota courts and work to prepare both the legal arguments and the human story the jury will hear. Throughout each stage, we explain what is coming next, what decisions need to be made, and what realistic options may be available.

Call us at (612) 979-1112 for a free consultation. We can explain how confidentiality applies and provide clear guidance from the start.

Questions About Child Molestation Charges in Minnesota

Should I Talk to the Police If I Am Accused of Molesting a Child?

In most situations, don’t discuss the allegations with police until you’ve obtained legal advice. Your right to remain silent and right to counsel may be important during questioning. We can review the circumstances, explain your options, and communicate with investigators when appropriate. Exercising a constitutional right isn’t an admission of guilt.

What Penalties Could I Face for a Child Sex Offense in Minnesota?

Potential penalties depend on the criminal sexual conduct degree, alleged act, child’s age, age difference, relationship, prior record, and other statutory factors. Consequences may include incarceration, fines, probation, treatment requirements, conditional release, and predatory offender registration. Statutory maximums aren’t predictions. We review the exact charge, sentencing provisions, and facts before discussing possible exposure.

Will I Have to Register as a Sex Offender If I Am Convicted?

Registration isn’t automatic for every conviction involving alleged sexual conduct. Minnesota Statutes section 243.166 identifies qualifying offenses and conviction-based requirements for predatory offender registration. Whether it applies, and for how long, depends on the offense of conviction and other statutory conditions. We can evaluate registration consequences as part of the broader defense analysis.

How Quickly Can Your Attorneys Get Involved in My Case?

You can contact our firm as soon as you learn that you’re under investigation or that a report has been made. You don’t have to wait for formal charges. Early involvement allows us to advise you before police or child protection interviews and begin reviewing available information.

Will Anyone Know That I Contacted Your Firm About These Charges?

Attorney consultations are generally confidential under applicable law and professional obligations. Limited exceptions may apply, so confidentiality shouldn’t be described as absolute. Contacting a lawyer isn’t automatically disclosed to the court, prosecutor, or public. During the consultation, we can explain how confidentiality applies to your circumstances.

How Do You Approach Cases for Veterans Facing Sex Offense Allegations?

Our veteran-led team considers the legal allegations and relevant military history. Service-related conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury may matter during negotiations, mitigation, or sentencing, depending on the facts. We also consider potential military career, security clearance, and Department of Veterans Affairs concerns when discussing collateral consequences.

What Does a Free Consultation With Your Firm Include?

A free consultation includes a discussion of the allegations, investigation activity, law enforcement or child protection contact, and your immediate concerns. We can explain the general legal framework and potential next steps based on the information available. The meeting doesn’t guarantee an outcome or obligate you to hire our firm.

At Brockton D. Hunter P.A., our veteran-led team brings more than 30 years of combined criminal defense experience, respected leadership in the Minnesota defense community, and a record of serious trial work to every case we handle. Reach out to us now or call (612) 979-1112 to request your free consultation.