Case Results

This client, looking at a nearly automatic lengthy prison hit for repeated arrests, failure to communicate with parole agents, failure to update address... was able to secure release through North Star's efforts, with no more sanction than time served. These hearings, held before a former parole agent (who is nearly never a lawyer, and often immune to defense arguments), are virtually impossible to win, but Mr. Adkins and a thoughtful and committed client secured a fantastic result.

Client avoids a permanent felony, avoids substantial jail, moves off highly restrictive gun limitations--all of which is remarkable, given not one but two arrests or new legal challenges after arrest. North Star takes a comprehensive approach with every client, even those not ready to cease poor decisions... and we never, ever give up, not on our clients or on fundamental justice.

Plea to an amended count of misdemeanor 4th Degree DWI. The client had an elevated alcohol concentration on a first-time offense. Not only did the North Star team negotiate a plea to a misdemeanor level offense, we also obtained unsupervised probation for the client, meaning she will never meet with probation and has nothing to do for the next year but stay good. Now, the client can put this behind her without having to worry about ongoing obligations. This was an incredibly deserving outcome for a wonderful client.

Continuance for dismissal. The client was alleged to have partaken in a written bomb threat made inside a high school. It goes without saying that this was a major case that the State was committed to pursuing to the full extent that they could. The State even went so far as to hire a handwriting expert to help its case. Nonetheless, the North Star team stepped up and prepared an excellent defense to the case, including retaining an expert of our own to successfully counter the State's expert opinion. Eventually, with thoughtful discussions about the factual issues the State has and a deserving client, Mr. Gempeler finally got the State to come down to this incredible offer - one that does not include an admission to any facts and ultimately leads to a dismissal of the entire case after six short months on probation with minimal conditions. The client and his family could not be happier it chose the North Star team to fight for their son, who can now push forward in his life without a devastating criminal record.

Plea to an amended count of Careless Driving. The client had zero defenses - it was a straight-forward case from the State's perspective. And, making this case more challenging is that the client blew a .14 - an alcohol concentration level that almost never results in a plea to an amended count because it's closer to double the legal limit than the actual legal limit. On top of that, a DWI plea could have led to serious consequences for the client's military career. Despite this, the North Star team worked with the client to get him to a much better position for negotiations. He completed proactive steps and demonstrated with good conduct that this is more of an one-time incident than the start of a bad run. Through strenuous and smart negotiations, the client obtained this truly rare result and it saved his military career.

Stay of adjudication. The client was busted for having marijuana found in his residence in various spots, accumulating a good amount. On top of that, the cops discovered multiple marijuana plants in the back garden area - far from an ideal fact for what could've been deemed a simpler possession case. Despite these troublesome facts, the North Star team achieved a dream outcome in which he will not be convicted of the felony (thereby keeping his record clean) and he avoids any time in custody. So long as he stays clean for up to three years, this case will be dismissed after his completion of probation.

Client with multiple concerns, and a relatively large amount of money at issue, receives an incredible discount to a stay of adjudication, and the return of his cash, with no untoward consequences from the federal government. Client is overwhelmed and happy.

This client, facing a nasty DUI with a high test, multiple priors and a bleak outlook, receives no jail time, no further programming than that she'd already completed, and an utterly feathery landing, due to speedy steps in remediation and her talented lawyers. DUI cases confound even seasoned defenders, with relentlessly repetitive fact patterns and a thin list of available defenses--but North Star doesn't quit, and does not take the traditional approach to these matters. We got thinking caps, here, and we use them.