Case Results

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.

Stay of adjudication. Client had no defense. Evidence was rather clear that he passed a school bus in violation of the stop arm laws. Yet, the North Star team knew how to approach the prosecutor to negotiate a plea deal that avoids creating a criminal conviction for a traffic violation and ensures he is not in danger of losing his license. This is exactly the outcome the client was hoping for when retaining the North Star team.

Norgaard plea, received a stay of adjudication on the threats of violence charge, stay of imposition to an added count of interfering with an emergency call (gross misdemeanor), and a stay of imposition to the misdemeanor domestic assault charge. This negotiated outcome results in no felony conviction on his record and, instead, just misdemeanor convictions. For an individual facing three serious felony charges, including the second degree assault with a dangerous weapon that would've required a year in prison if convicted, this is a fantastic result. The top priorities for the client were avoiding a felony record and prison time. The North Star team engaged in extensive and creative negotiations over lengthy litigation, ultimately culminating in this deal on the doorstep to trial. Considering the allegations, a motivated victim, and challenging evidence to overcome, accomplishing the client's objectives seemed unlikely to begin, but eventually came to fruition with the strategy implemented.

Diversion - meaning no plea or conviction, and a dismissal of the entire case upon the client's successful completion of minimal terms of the diversion agreement. What makes this result even more incredible is that the State possessed security camera footage of the assault. And the video is not good, to say the least. Yet, despite the ugly footage and no defenses as a result, the North Star team leveraged the client's remorse, good overall record, and its own good relationships with the prosecutor to get them to trust our client and that he's a perfect candidate for diversion. Another fantastic result in the face of daunting circumstances.

Plea to the misdemeanor domestic assault, dismissal of the remaining counts, and no jail time to serve. The client was staring at a presumptive commitment to prison on the felony burglary count. And while the client took some proactive steps toward sobriety - because alcohol was an underlying issue in the case - full sobriety was not achieved. The North Star team raised legal defenses to possibly challenge with the Court, but also successfully leveraged in plea negotiations. The result is this incredible result where the client avoids prison, local jail time, and a long-term felony conviction record. This accomplished everything the client was hoping for, even though he didn't even believe it was possible. Another great result by the North Star team.

Stay of imposition, reducing the conviction to a misdemeanor upon his successful completion of probation. Client was denied service at a liquor store and drove home mightily impaired. After arrest, he blew a .31. Clearly, he was suffering from alcoholism. But, thankfully, he used this negative and turned it into a positive. He completed lengthy inpatient, intensive outpatient, and then outpatient treatment. Achieved sobriety and even became a speaker at the treatment center. The North Star team leveraged all of these proactive steps and a strong legal argument surrounding the stop to negotiate what will ultimately be a misdemeanor level conviction. The client is thrilled he had the North Star team fighting for him at every opportunity to get him this incredible result.

Stay of adjudication to an amended count of disorderly conduct. The client was alleged to have broken the door to enter his daughter's room during a disagreement over social media use. The client was impaired at the time and struggling with alcohol, to say the least. He self-admitted himself into extensive alcohol treatment, achieved sobriety, and re-established a great relationship with his daughter. All of these efforts and both the Mom's and daughter's support led to North Star pushing for this incredible result. Avoiding any conviction was critical for the client's continued success, sobriety, and desire to hunt with his daughter. Another fantastic result from the North Star team.

Stay of adjudication and no time to serve. The client was facing a presumptive commitment to prison due to the identity theft charge - which was a stretch, but nonetheless was a major issue to deal with. And despite evidence clearly pointing to our client bilking the State out of five-figures worth of money from social services payments, the North Star team did their due diligence in researching key legal issues. Namely, the search that led to much of the evidence was suspect and the North Star team found a creative and novel legal argument that turned the table in the case. As a result, the client received a stay of adjudication, which means he will never be convicted of anything and the case will be dismissed following a minimal period of probation in which he merely has to have no same or similar incidents. He could not ask for a better negotiated outcome. He and his family are thrilled to have obtained this incredible outcome and for trusting North Star Criminal Defense.