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Minnesota Criminal Law Questions & Answers
Q: Should I participate in a competency to proceed evaluation with a psychiatrist that is not licensed in my state?

I have waited 113 days for an evaluation to take place and finally a doctor called me to do a video conference to complete the evaluation. I have found that she is a licensed psychiatrist but is not licensed in this state only in two other states does this seem like a legitimate situation? I... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 29, 2024

This is a complex situation that raises several important legal and procedural concerns. Here's an analysis of the key points:

1. Competency evaluation timing: The 113-day wait for your evaluation is significant. Many jurisdictions have specific timeframes for competency evaluations,...
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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Civil Rights for Minnesota on
Q: Can they charge me separately give me two different charges for the same pull over stop or should they be together.

I got pulled over got a 5th degree and a dui. They charged me a year later and also they charged me separately a week apart dui charge then 5th degree a week later so now I’m on probation for one and bail for the other. I have no criminal history and I know they’re doing this on purpose THE... View More

Sarah Gad
Sarah Gad
answered on Jun 11, 2024

It sounds like you were pulled over on suspicion of a DUI and the police officer searched the car and allegedly discovered a controlled substance in the vehicle. It is pretty atypical for someone to be charged separately for alleged offenses arising from the same incident, but it is permissible and... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Civil Rights for Minnesota on
Q: Can they charge me separately give me two different charges for the same pull over stop or should they be together.

I got pulled over got a 5th degree and a dui. They charged me a year later and also they charged me separately a week apart dui charge then 5th degree a week later so now I’m on probation for one and bail for the other. I have no criminal history and I know they’re doing this on purpose THE... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 21, 2024

I understand you're in a difficult situation and feeling frustrated with the legal process. While I can't provide specific legal advice, I can offer some general information and suggestions that may be helpful:

1. Multiple charges from one incident: It's not uncommon for...
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2 Answers | Asked in Cannabis & Marijuana Law and Criminal Law for Minnesota on
Q: Can I grow marijuana while on parole

I'm asking because my p.o has Threaten to put me back on a 90 day violation for smoking (street weed) thas pot that's not from a dispensary.

And now on top of that, she wants me to do MRT

And my insurance won't cover it. And she told me. I'm ether gonna pay... View More

Jonathan Matthew Holson
Jonathan Matthew Holson
answered on Jun 3, 2024

You need to follow your conditions of supervised release. If supervised release requires sobriety, you need to remain sober. If you have a prescription for medical marijuana, then you need to get your pot from a dispensary. I'm not sure why she is requiring you to do MRT, but you are likely... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Landlord - Tenant for Minnesota on
Q: Civil case. why is multiple attorneys refuse to handle my legitimate case? $payment yes to be given?

Very strange a group home house owner stolen $10,000.00 my property only because I reasoned to move forward yes exit premises yes the move was legal yet he offered a different property (residence) no diffilculty in haveing rent payments made, legit!

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on May 31, 2024

Given the small amount of money involved, it would not likely be worth the administrative overhead of setting up the file even if you were paying the attorney on an hourly fee basis. And it's way too small for a contingency fee. Most very small cases like this (under $15,000) can be... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Federal Crimes for Minnesota on
Q: Can I carry a gun while picking up my daughter?

I drive through bad parts of town to pick up my daughter for her time with me. I do not have a permit to carry. But I do know it's legal to carry at home or between work and home. Could this be applied in an argument where I like to be armed when traveling with my children.

Ideally, I... View More

Jonathan Matthew Holson
Jonathan Matthew Holson
answered on May 29, 2024

Get a permit. You cannot legally transfer a loaded gun without a permit. You certainly could be charged with carrying in public without a permit and there is no guarantee that anyone is going to simply accept a claim that you acted in self-defense.

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4 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Federal Crimes for Minnesota on
Q: Can I carry a gun while picking up my daughter?

I drive through bad parts of town to pick up my daughter for her time with me. I do not have a permit to carry. But I do know it's legal to carry at home or between work and home. Could this be applied in an argument where I like to be armed when traveling with my children.

Ideally, I... View More

Robert Kane
Robert Kane
answered on May 29, 2024

No, you cannot legally carry a gun while picking up your daughter.

Minnesota Statutes, section 97B.045, prohibits transporting a firearm in a motor vehicle unless the firearm is unloaded and either:

Fully secured in a gun case expressly made for that purpose, where the case is...
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4 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Federal Crimes for Minnesota on
Q: Can I carry a gun while picking up my daughter?

I drive through bad parts of town to pick up my daughter for her time with me. I do not have a permit to carry. But I do know it's legal to carry at home or between work and home. Could this be applied in an argument where I like to be armed when traveling with my children.

Ideally, I... View More

Thomas C Gallagher
Thomas C Gallagher
answered on May 29, 2024

"Say I was forced to use lethal force to defend myself and children from say a carjacking?" There is too much to fit into an answer here. But I'll try to get you started in your research. First, in Minnesota such a person carrying a firearm without a permit would be charged with that... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Federal Crimes for Minnesota on
Q: Can I carry a gun while picking up my daughter?

I drive through bad parts of town to pick up my daughter for her time with me. I do not have a permit to carry. But I do know it's legal to carry at home or between work and home. Could this be applied in an argument where I like to be armed when traveling with my children.

Ideally, I... View More

Sarah Gad
Sarah Gad
answered on May 29, 2024

You can carry your firearm in your vehicle as long as it is unloaded and in the closed trunk of your vehicle. If you want immediate access to the firearm, you need a permit to carry. The law does not regard self-defense as an excuse to not not have a permit to carry.

You can apply for a...
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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Minnesota on
Q: The fasted way to get your mcro updated correctly so you can get bailed out

Court clerk didnt remove the hold without bail or bond part on the mcro so now it has it saying no bond and bail set at 10k (which is the correct one). me and the bondman are having such a headache with us. What’s the fastest way I can get this corrected

Jonathan Matthew Holson
Jonathan Matthew Holson
answered on May 13, 2024

This isn't something that is going to happen over a weekend. A human being will need update MNCIS which is the court information system. MCRO simply reflects what has been entered into MNCIS. Call first thing today to see what can be done to get this addressed.

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Federal Crimes for Minnesota on
Q: What happens if you kill someone who tries to rob you with a gun, but you kill them with a ghost glock

If you are being robbed at gunpoint, but you defend yourself with an illegal glock what would you get charged with

Jonathan Matthew Holson
Jonathan Matthew Holson
answered on May 4, 2024

You reach out directly to criminal defense attorneys and get one on board immediately. You are facing a potential murder charge here, along with possession of a ghost gun. It also raises the question if you are legally permitted to possess firearms which then creates a potential felon in... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Family Law, Child Custody and Domestic Violence for Minnesota on
Q: Facing 5 felony charges from false accusations by husband's ex-wife in custody battle. Seeking advice on plea deal vs. t

I am currently facing five pending felony charges that have arisen from false accusations by my husband's ex-wife in a custody battle. She has a history of making unfounded claims, including allegations of harassment and stalking, which are untrue. The children involved have expressed missing... View More

Thomas C Gallagher
Thomas C Gallagher
answered on May 2, 2024

A lawyer cannot give legal advice about a plea agreement vs. trial, without being the attorney of record, after thorough review and time spent with the known facts, discovery from the prosecution and other facts and evidence; as well as research into laws that could relate to those. As a general... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Libel & Slander for Minnesota on
Q: Can they get a warrant based on a word-of-mouth or say A Reliable credible witness that I have a video of doing drugs,

They got a warrant to search my house. Based on this credible, reliable witness's word. Well, he's been doing drugs. The entire time and he has are the credentials that it takes for the Frank versus Delaware. You need to have some kind of training. He's had none. He's a liar and... View More

Thomas C Gallagher
Thomas C Gallagher
answered on May 1, 2024

If evidence of a crime was recovered by police executing a search warrant, and a person is charged with a crime as a result, then that person can file a pretrial motion challenging whether the search and the search warrant were lawful. If the judge agrees with the defense that the search was... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for Minnesota on
Q: If being charged for 2 separate crimes, but you only committed 1 of them, should you want them in an "omnibus hearing?"

I have a hearing tomorrow where I'm being accused of one minor felony that I did commit, but my PD says she's requesting an omnibus hearing that will lump that felony in with a second & much more serious felony I'm being accused of but did NOT commit.

Based on some... View More

Thomas C Gallagher
Thomas C Gallagher
answered on May 1, 2024

Two separate crimes or two separate incident dates? Criminal charges from two separate incident dates can often be reviewed together in some or all court appearances, if in the same County. Whether that is a good idea for the defense may depend upon facts not knowable in an online Q & A site.... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for Minnesota on
Q: If being charged for 2 separate crimes, but you only committed 1 of them, should you want them in an "omnibus hearing?"

I have a hearing tomorrow where I'm being accused of one minor felony that I did commit, but my PD says she's requesting an omnibus hearing that will lump that felony in with a second & much more serious felony I'm being accused of but did NOT commit.

Based on some... View More

Jonathan Matthew Holson
Jonathan Matthew Holson
answered on May 1, 2024

I'm not sure what you have read or who you have had conversations with, but consolidating these cases is not a bad idea. It saves you additional court appearances and additional hassle. I also do not believe that it creates any bias against you because you are guilty of one case and not... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Minnesota on
Q: Can personal property be searched before you are released from jail on your own recognizance

He was to be released by order of the judge and after his hearing they said they found stuff in his wallet and he caught another charge so wasn’t released

Thomas C Gallagher
Thomas C Gallagher
answered on Apr 25, 2024

His or her defense attorney may want to research whether a search of a wallet after a judge orders release is an illegal search. A search by the government is presumptively illegal unless authorized by a search warrant, or a recognized exception to the search warrant requirement applies.

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Civil Rights for Minnesota on
Q: What are possession laws pertaining to drug charges? Girlfriend pled guilty yet I'm still being charged when I knew noth

Nothing about the drugs. I was detained 1 block from my house before it got raided. Girlfriend already took

Thomas C Gallagher
Thomas C Gallagher
answered on Apr 25, 2024

Two points: 1. Criminal possession is possible by more than one person at the same time. Joint possession would mean two or more people criminally possessed at least one thing at the same time. As a result, one person being held responsible doesn't necessarily help others facing criminal... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for Minnesota on
Q: Can I be charged with assault even if I have an eyewitness saying the injury came from a slip and fall?

I have prior assault convictions

Sarah Gad
Sarah Gad
answered on Apr 17, 2024

You can be charged with assault if the police have probable cause to believe you assaulted the person. Probable cause is not very high standard. If the alleged victim had a visible injury and claimed that you were the attacker, that's pretty much all that is needed for probable cause to charge... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for Minnesota on
Q: Can I be charged with assault even if I have an eyewitness saying the injury came from a slip and fall?

I have prior assault convictions

Thomas C Gallagher
Thomas C Gallagher
answered on Apr 17, 2024

When a prosecutor files a criminal charge, they allege facts which if true, they believe would prove the crime charged. If there are not facts to support "probable cause" to believe a crime was committed by the defendant, the defense attorney may file a motion to dismiss for lack of... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law, Criminal Law, Native American Law and Traffic Tickets for Minnesota on
Q: Is Driving after Cancelation (IPS) ,civil reg. Or criminal? I am a enrolled tribal member, and I was cited on res land

I was cited by a tribal officer, but I was given a Becker Co. Citation, I requested this remain in tribal court and was denied, because the officer believed dac,IPS is a criminal act and would be heard in district court.

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 16, 2024

Driving after Cancellation (DAC), specifically when labeled as "inimical to public safety" (IPS), is typically regarded as a criminal offense. The categorization as criminal stems from the potential threat to public safety implied by the IPS designation. This determination means that the... View More

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