Plea to the 5th Degree Assault as a misdemeanor and the felony assault of an officer is dismissed. Client was charged with the felony for spitting on an officer during an anger outburst directed at officers, which included plentiful foul language and culminated in the spitting episode. Despite an ugly scene caught on body camera, the client was able to plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault that involved him wrestling with his roommate and the ENTIRETY of his misconduct with the officer was dismissed. He has no jail to serve and his probation is simple. The client was proactive throughout the duration of the case. But, even then, avoiding this serious felony and any factual basis involving the cop, is damn near a miracle. The client is ecstatic because it puts him back on track with his career, for which he had just finished schooling prior to sentencing.

Continuance for Dismissal. This matter involved multiple witnesses and video proof of a pretty clear meltdown, but careful negotiation and character evidence convinced a salty prosecutor to cut their losses and set the case for a 6-month diversion, and eventual dismissal (and since-expungement). Client is geeked, and a strong relationship with a local prosecutor gets stronger still.

Probationary sentence. Mr. Adkins was retained with less than two months to counsel and advise the client on how to position himself best for a life-altering sentencing hearing. Through this counseling, the client became proactive in obtaining services while in custody and wrote a thoughtful letter, demonstrating his remorse and acceptance of responsibility for his actions. The judge told the courtroom that he took the bench prepared to send the client to prison, pursuant to a presumptive commitment of 4+ years. After Mr. Adkins' savvy and persuasive sentencing argument, the judge reversed course and placed the client on probation and sentenced him to serve no prison time. This is truly a remarkable outcome. And it goes to show that it is critical to be sure you are prepared to fight for your future at all times throughout the case. Even at sentencing when it seems like the deck is stacked against you, the right approach and sentencing attorney can lead to incredible results.

Plea to the 4th Degree Assault, sentenced as a misdemeanor, and the disorderly conduct case was dismissed in its entirety. On top of this great outcome, the client was ordered to do no further time in custody or community service - despite probation recommending an additional 120 hours of community service. The fine was the bare minimum that could be imposed, too. The client is battling alcoholism, which led to these charges. She was also on probation at the time of the incident for a felony 4th degree assault of a police officer and picked up a DWI, too. Despite all of that, the North Star team successfully negotiated this a misdemeanor outcome. Proactive steps by the client are instrumental. And this client did everything she could to earn this outcome.

Dismissal. This case, concerning an assault allegation that could easily have been amended to a Domestic count (with the attendant significant collateral consequences, including gun-right loss), looked close to insoluble at first, but the team at North Star coordinated closely with the client and his wonderful family, convinced the State that the allegations were infirm, and before even the second trip to the courthouse, the State filed a Rule 30.01 notice, permanently dismissing the case. Family is most pleased, with cause.

Plea to a fifth degree assault. Mr. Adkins moves the needle again, getting a very conservative prosecutor from a tough jurisdiction to discount a broken skull, and significant injuries as a result of a needless punch (on video), even protecting the result from a last-minute effort by the State to withdraw and reinstate felony charges… Never hurts to have a litigator with three decades of experience and credibility to get matters to the finish line.

In a Washington County matter, Dan Adkins successfully sought and received a probationary sentence for a young person who nearly killed a friend in an alcohol-fueled event. Had this matter been charged as attempted homicide, a sentence in the hundreds of months would have been the starting point, for either negotiations or a result after a guilty verdict. As it is, aggressive work by the legal team and a tremendous commitment on the part of the client to address mental health and drug/alcohol dependency issues in residential treatment brought about a remarkable result. After a relatively short spell on probationary conditions, this person can move forward positively and thoughtfully, having never visited the inside of a Minnesota Correctional Facility. Truly incredible result.