No one here is going to be able to address your specific concerns as we do not have access to the discovery in your case. Many of the decisions made by your attorney are strategic that your attorney's to make. You attorney should certainly be discussing the case with you, but your attorney... View More

While the answer would depend upon all the facts and circumstances, most police officers pressuring a target to work off a case should know how to do so without giving the target a defense to a subsequent charge. Your lawyer would have access to more information as well as the ability to ask you... View More

In Minnesota, even if the citation you received doesn’t list a court date, shoplifting offenses require a court appearance. That court appearance typically comes by way of a summons that will be mailed to you, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your mail in the coming weeks. If you... View More

Most people would not want a theft conviction on their public record. If a theft charge was a payable offense, it would result in a public conviction record, though a "petty." You could try to pay it via the Minnesota Courts website "pay fines" tab. But I doubt that it is a... View More

The question touches upon two legal topics: evidence law and the elements of the crime claimed. A photograph can be evidence admitted into a trial, if properly authenticated, including testimony that it fairly represents what it is purported to depict, as well as being material and relevant to the... View More

They absolutely shouldn't, but they do all the time. Inviting someone who threatened your life to show up during a search warrant at your home is not just reckless—it’s a complete failure of their duty to protect you. Unfortunately, this kind of behavior isn’t as rare as it should be,... View More

A criminal statute must have an "intent element." The level of criminal intent varies in different criminal statutes, but some level of intent to do the prohibited act must be proven. For a person characterized by police as a "target," exposure to criminal liability might exist... View More

Get an attorney to represent you. Do not make further contact with law enforcement. Let the attorney handle things from here on out. Your attorney can handle any contact with law enforcement and also can provide any exculpatory evidence to the prosecutor.

Even though you already left a voicemail, do not provide any further statements or explanations to law enforcement. Anything you say can and will be used against you. The officer may seem helpful or neutral, but their job is to investigate a crime—not necessarily to clear you. Instead, consult... View More

1. Do not speak with police, at all. Decline any police contacts to speak. 2. Contact a criminal defense lawyer for some help. 3. It can help to try to preserve evidence that might be helpful, such as video of the accuser threatening people with knives.

Let's start with the DWI. Did you plead guilty to the charge? If so, it is too late at this point to go back and challenge the conviction as violating the cooperation agreement. The time to do that was back in 2018, not seven years later in 2025. I'm confused as to why an extension of... View More

Unfortunately yes, it is perfectly lawful and happens during any arrest. When you are arrested for any offense, police officers are permitted to do what's called a search incident to arrest. Whatever they find on you during the search incident to arrest is fair game for charging purposes. In... View More

They do not need to read your rights unless they are going to perform custodial interrogation. The fact that they did not locate stolen good does not mean that you get a free pass on any other illegal items that you might have been in possession of. You should get an attorney on board who can... View More

A defense lawyer will look at two separate stages of a police encounter: 1. Was evidence collected unlawfully, so that the defense can ask a judge to suppress the evidence? 2. Given the evidence that has survived any defense motions to suppress, does the evidence support probable cause for the... View More

You need an attorney who can review all the information, not just your recitation, about what occurred to advise you whether the search was valid or not. It is unclear from the question what you are charged with, buy you need an attorney on board if you are going to challenge that search that... View More

A defense lawyer will need more facts, all available evidence and information, in order to make a determination about whether a good Fourth Amendment search & seizure issue exists. The only lawyer who will have access to that will be the lawyer representing you, or who will be. Given the... View More

Would it be lawful for a police officer to arrest a person simply for requesting their badge number and identification in Minnesota? No, because a lawful arrest would require either an arrest warrant or sufficient "arrest probable cause" of criminal activity. A related question might be:... View More

Dropping a no contact order is not up to the alleged victim. It is a decision that is up to the Court. But the alleged victim can certainly contact the Court and request that the no contact order be dropped. A copy of that request would need to go to the prosecutor as well as the defense... View More

It should be possible to get a lab to retest a substance the state claims to be illegal drugs, either at the same lab or a different one. The Defendant might be required to pay for that, unless a judge were to order otherwise. Retesting would take time to complete, either way. The defense... View More

Individuals don't "file" charges. The decision to charge comes from the prosecuting attorney in the county where the offense occurred. The allegations can be reported to law enforcement. The allegations would be investigated and a determination would be made by the prosecuting... View More