This juvenile matter involved multiple stabbings, including on the victim's spine--but the result will be a sponged record, no jail or similar confinement, a letter of apology, and a reacquired future. Endless creativity and hustle was required for this troubled client, but the team at North Star possess both traits in surplus.

Stay of Adjudication. Mr. Adkins is becoming a bit of a wizard in the Greater Minnesota counties; nowhere did this benefit a client as much as in this case, with a man facing a possible long jail or even prison sanction for heinous threats against his neighbor (a former police officer). However, with great patience and a highly precise approach to treatment and restorative justice, the client exits with a Stay of Adjudication, no conviction, light terms on probation, and a path to full expungement of this matter in less than two years. Ridiculously wonderful results.

Misdemeanor sentence to an assault charge, successfully obtained upon arguments directly to Trial Judge – even after the State refused to relent from a prison-commit offer. No jail was required. Client’s outstanding effort to rehabilitate himself changed hearts and minds, and legal arguments regarding voluntary intoxication convinced the judge to extend a probationary outcome to the client. A significant win, to say the least.

Stay of Adjudication to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct. The North Star team was retained a week before the trial. After getting the trial continued - over the State's objection - the firm immediately began utilizing its relationships with the local prosecutor's office and leveraged the self-defense claim (albeit, not a strong one) into such a crucial outcome for the client. Because this will never be a conviction, the client can continue pursuing her social services career and will not have a bad night, after bar-close fight hold her back.

Case dismissed. The client had a viable self-defense claim and the allegations were nebulous, as well. We pushed for a trial, knowing the complainant had a history of false allegations and not further pursuing them in the criminal justice system. The North Star team successfully negotiated an almost no-lose proposition with the State. IF the witness reasserts herself, they would still offer a diversionary outcome, which would still mean no conviction. As the trial approached, the North Star team corresponded with the prosecutor about the case and he ultimately realized the right decision was to dismiss the case entirely. Another fantastic result by the North Star team.

Stay of Adjudication. The client thoroughly assaulted her ex-boyfriend's side lady and there were no meaningful defenses. Making matters worse, as an educator, an assault conviction could lead to a loss of career. The State's initial offer was to a plea and conviction. Undeterred, Mr. Gempeler and his team pushed back, leaned on the right leverage pieces (including a somewhat plausible self-defense claim), and negotiated this fantastic result through creative negotiations.

Client avoided designation as a Career Felony Offender, and thereby avoided a prison term of at least twenty years; he will serve only 2-6 months additional incarceration over the term he was already serving for a prior Kidnapping conviction (in that matter, the client avoided a possible Attempted First Degree Homicide prosecution, and received less than 20% of the time he would normally have had to serve). Multiple complex negotiations were required, and artful work with a particularly talented and well-regarded prosecutor. The client will be home to give his children back a father in less than 18 months, armed with a new lease on life.

Stay of Imposition, with a minimal term in custody. The facts of this case were not pretty in the sense that the client hospitalized his roommate over an innocuous argument. The client rebounded perfectly following the incident by seeking mental health treatment and refocusing his life around supportive family and friends. Due to this, he earned the opportunity to have a misdemeanor conviction following his probationary term. For a young man with a bright future, his regrettable decisions on a single night will not have to define him for life.