Case Results

Dismissal and Count reduction. A client with several decades' worth of driving mishaps sought Mr. Adkins' assistance, after years with another lawyer, hoping to avoid a long local jail sentence. He didn't serve a DAY, and his matters are concluded with nothing more than a bit of community service to complete, and he achieved something he hasn't had in all that time--a valid driver's license. We will work tirelessly to put you to rights, with a license, or insurance, or the interlock, or therapies and counseling of a variety of descriptions, to get you onto your feet and avoiding further complications. No firm has more resources, or more energy, to assist you.

Plea to an amended count of 4th Degree DWI. Client blew a .20. Minneapolis City Attorney refused to offer anything less than a plea to the 3rd Degree as charged, while asking for a significant amount of STS to serve. Seeing not much of a benefit to taking this deal, Mr. Gempeler pushed the case to a jury trial date, at which the offer improved dramatically to this misdemeanor result. For a first-time offender and an individual that took all the right steps following the incident, this was the just result and one that we fought for all the way to trial.

Dismissed. County attorney dismissed the case prior to a contested hearing challenging probable cause on one count. Mr. Gempeler, after thorough investigation into the facts and discussing strategy with the client, developed an alibi defense that was provided to the County Attorney prior to the hearing. After considering this evidence, alongside the allegations of the complaining party, the County Attorney determined made the right decision and dismissed the entire case. Obtaining a dismissal at such an early stage is rare because prosecuting attorneys want to assume their cases are worthy of a jury's consideration - even when they know they don't have strong cases. Mr. Gempeler's thoughtful and respectful approach was key to earning this outcome and getting the prosecutor on his side when making the decision to dismiss the case.

Stay of adjudication to an amended charge of disorderly conduct. The State was initially seeking a plea and long-term conviction. But, through a smart proactive approach to treatment and counseling, the State believed in the client's future and want to keep his record clean. The result is moving the State off its once firm offer to an outcome that was exactly what we set out to accomplish. The client is thrilled for the opportunity to earn a clean record.

Stay of adjudication to an amended count of disorderly conduct. The State initially asked for a plea to the domestic assault as charged. After following North Star's advice on how to be proactive in addressing potential chemical dependency and mental health issues, the client sought regular counseling that demonstrated to the prosecutor and the Court that he was worthy of a second chance. The client pled guilty with no assurances to the stay of adjudication. But, after taking the proper proactive steps, Mr. Gempeler was able to make the persuasive argument at sentencing to get the critical stay of adjudication the client needed to keep his record clean.

Third Degree CSC, no prison term. Another attorney, talented in his own right, tried this client's case to a jury. After that jury hung 11-1 in favor of convicting the client, Mr. Adkins was retained for a re-trial, but his superior negotiation skillset meant the case could be resolved short of another trial (and an almost certain conviction), instead as a plea to the lowest count in the complaint, and a probationary sentence. This came after arguments to the sentencing judge regarding a mandatory prison term, a request for a downward departure, the State's request for a year in local jail, and the Court's decision to trust the client would take this opportunity and learn/grow from it. Outstanding results for a man now on the path to recovering his integrity, and better choices in future.

Conviction on Receipt of Stolen Property. The client in this case, with a lengthy and troubling criminal history, faced a sentence of effective life in prison, had Hernandizing and other components been left to a judge to compile. Rather, Mr. Adkins worked with a thoughtful prosecutor to reduce the client's exposure to the sixty months he'd necessarily face as a felon handling a gun (in this case, shooting up a party where he'd been assaulted only moments before), with a count of offense being one that keeps the client eligible for Boot Camp--and a potential return home only six months out, rather than a DECADE. If you have an unfortunate prior record, for felonies, for violence, or merely for traffic violations, and your new case means trouble, call Dan Adkins and North Star NOW. There is no time to waste, and there is no time that MUST be served, if you and Dan can coordinate your defense.

Plea to an amended count of 4th Degree DWI as a misdemeanor(!!!). Not only that, the client entered a Norgaard plea based upon the fact that she could not recall the incident. Still, with a .29 reading and a history of prior offenses outside of 10 years, Mr. Gempeler utilized the proper approach when negotiating with the prosecutor to obtain this truly unthinkable outcome. The client's proactive approach - meaning, inpatient, outpatient, and after care to address both chemical dependency and mental health issues - affording our team the ability to negotiate this result. It goes to show that even with the deck stacked against you, North Star can achieve incredible results.