Case Results

Plea to an amended count of careless driving. What makes this such a phenomenal result is that the client blew a .14. Usually, the cut-off for a non-DWI/careless driving plea is .09 or .10. So, to get this at a .14 required a lot of creativity, persistence, and the illusion of leverage that ultimately led to such a fantastic plea deal. The client is thrilled to have achieved this outcome because of Mr. Gempeler's tenacity.

Dismissed by the State during trial. This is a truly rare outcome. In the midst of a court trial, the State could not lay the proper foundation for the radar reading to be entered. The reason - Mr. Gempeler's dogged trial skills and objections completely flustered the prosecutor into having to dismiss the case. Understanding the nuances of the law - even for speeding tickets - Mr. Gempeler successfully stymied the prosecutor with the technical requirements in how to get radar readings entered into evidence. These nuances are so easily overlooked, to the detriment of defendants. Not with Mr. Gempeler and the North Star team. Even when a conviction seems not only likely, but a foregone conclusion, the North Star team gets to work and develops a strategy that can succeed. This outcome saved a client from a six-month revocation - a fantastic outcome, to say the least.

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.

Stay of Adjudication. Unbelievably pleasant surprise in court this day—a dead-to-rights collateral-consequence nightmare of a set of charges, with multiple witnesses to the inebriated behavior and all confirming the presence of a firearm (albeit with a conceal and carry permit, voided by that alcohol!), resolves via a strong and successful negotiation as a stay of adjudication. Client can retain his gun rights, albeit with a pause on the carry permit, and will not only avoid a conviction, but will achieve an expungement of the entire matter upon successful completion of as few as six months of light conditions on his conduct. Just a remarkable result, for a client who had already avoided a massive prior set of allegations.

Drug Court diversion. Mr. Adkins was able to overcome massive opposition and months of obstacles, and the client was admitted into Drug Court with a chance to avoid any jail, and a long sentencing guidelines stay (necessitated from multiple prior convictions) of 88 months or longer… With a year of sobriety, success in a carefully-curated set of drug treatment programs, and graduation into a long term relapse prevention protocol, this still-young man can escape not only a nasty stretch in state prison, but also local jail concerns go by the board. A life literally salvaged, and a path back to full civilian success and fatherhood and full employment and... well, you get the point.

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.

Departure to probation. Every now and again, the North Star team will return to the office with an outcome that doesn’t make a ton of sense, like in the First Degree Assault case described below, the Ramsey County hammer-attack that was nearly a murder, with the client avoiding prison entirely, and achieving a probationary outcome, notwithstanding EVERYONE in opposition to that result, including probation and the State and the victim, etc. Here, Mr. Adkins achieved a no jail, no prison, no challenging terms of probation result for a client facing a mandatory five years in prison, with five or more criminal history points, who was already on probation for a felony drug offense when Mr. Adkins was retained. Probation? Just two years. No fine… simply a stunning turn of events, due to the creative and relentless approach North Star presents in every case we take. This is a life saved, a family protected, and a staggeringly good result.

Diversion. Client admitted to smashing in a neighbor's window after letting her emotions get the best of her. There were no defenses and in a county that seeks to protect its people and property aggressively. The North Star team, nonetheless, pushed back, humanized our client, and eventually succeeded in getting such an incredible outcome - one that involves no admission of wrongdoing on the court record and will ultimately be a complete dismissal of the case. What's more, we pushed back on the initial restitution claim, saving our client more than a thousand dollars in the process.