Go to https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch

and enter the citation number.

If nothing comes up, call the court listed on your notice as soon as possible to confirm your court date. Sometimes the paperwork just hasn’t been processed yet - but you definitely don’t... View More

The age of consent in Minnesota is 16. That doesn't mean that dating a 16 year old when you are 19 is a good idea. There are all kinds of other issues that can arise around sexting with a minor, sending nudes (which would be child pornography), etc. It would be far more advisable to find a... View More

Of course a person can submit a written confession of guilt. But, keep in mind that two or more people can be guilty of criminal possession of illegal drugs. Just because one person, out of the two or more people (a "conspiracy"), admits guilt, will not help the rest who are accused.... View More

Consider the Minnesota Rules of Evidence, Rule 609 (a). Impeachment by Evidence of Conviction of Crime

which allows a lawyer to attack the credibility of a witness with evidence that the witness has been convicted of a crime if the crime involved dishonesty or false statement, regardless of... View More

Yes, a person involved in a bar fight a few months ago could go to the police to report a potential crime. And it's possible the police could then investigate, and a prosecutor could possibly then decide to file criminal charges against the other party. It's possible. Most misdemeanor... View More

Let's take each of the two questions, one at a time. First, if police seize a defendant's firearm related to a criminal charge, and that criminal charge is later dismissed, that defendant generally should be able to get their firearm back from police. It could be as simple as contacting... View More

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answered on Oct 23, 2025

Facing a domestic assault charge can be frightening, especially when you feel your actions were misunderstood. Since you’ve already served time for a past offense, the court may look closely at your history, so it’s important to have legal support that can present your side clearly. Your first... View More

Yes, a DWI charge can and should be challenged. One type of defense can focus on a lack of evidence that the defendant was "driving, operating or in physical control" of a motor vehicle. Many people have been convicted of DWI for merely sleeping in their vehicle while impaired by... View More

It's best to make the best available choices available at the time. So, "Plan A" should be to avoid being "convicted." A record of "conviction" is what causes at least 99% of the problems related to a criminal charge. There are more than one criminal case... View More

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answered on Oct 18, 2025

What happened to you sounds incredibly traumatic, and it’s understandable that you want justice after being hurt by the very people you called for help. If you were assaulted by a police officer and suffered serious injuries, you may have grounds for a **civil rights lawsuit** under federal law... View More

You cannot be given a speedy trial unless you demand a speedy trial. You must not have made such a demand if you were in court in September and your trial was not scheduled until January. You should demand a speedy trial if that is what you want, but it isn't always the best idea... View More

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answered on Oct 3, 2025

In Minnesota, the law distinguishes between handguns and long guns like an AR-style rifle. You do not need a permit to openly carry a long gun in most public spaces, but there are important restrictions. The firearm must be unloaded while it is being carried in a public place, unless you are in... View More

The concerns you’ve described sound very serious, but no one online can provide legal advice that substitutes for the advice of your actual attorney. If your attorney hasn’t yet reviewed the file, get them on the phone or schedule a meeting to ensure these issues are brought to their attention.... View More

Your recitation of the facts here makes no sense. He has a sentencing hearing in November but the charges were dismissed. You indicate "particularly as he was never convicted, only charged, and not required to register." He would not be held for sentencing if he did not plead guilty to... View More

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answered on Sep 20, 2025

In Minnesota, running a school bus stop sign is treated as a serious traffic offense because it puts children at risk. Since children were present, the citation is more serious than a simple moving violation and is classified as a Criminal/Traffic Mandatory offense. Typically, this is a... View More

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answered on Sep 20, 2025

In Minnesota, the legality of possessing and carrying defensive devices like pepper spray depends on how the device is designed and used. Pepper spray that is aerosol-propelled is generally legal for self-defense, but devices like pepper ball guns, which use projectiles instead of aerosol, may be... View More

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answered on Sep 19, 2025

The first step is to focus on resolving the citation through your criminal attorney. If your attorney successfully withdraws or vacates your guilty plea, you can then provide documentation of this outcome to Spark. Having the citation cleared or overturned will strengthen your case for... View More

If an arrest warrant will not be enforced, at least in the foreign jurisdiction where the subject is currently located, then some may choose to wait. But the subject could investigate to find out more about it from the warrants office of the Sheriff in the originating county and state, and-or from... View More

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answered on Sep 16, 2025

In Minnesota, expandable batons are generally considered "dangerous weapons," and their possession and carry are regulated under state law. Carrying an expandable baton in public for self-defense can be illegal unless you meet certain exceptions, such as being in your home or place of... View More

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answered on Sep 16, 2025

Under Minnesota law, Sec. 609.605 addresses trespassing, which generally involves entering or remaining on someone else’s property without permission. The statute includes circumstances where property is fenced or otherwise clearly marked to exclude the public. Jumping a barbed wire fence at an... View More