Case Results

Diversion program. We are often approached by clients who have made an initial appearance in court, expecting a soft landing, who have been advised they don't qualify for diversion, or another favorable program to resolve their matter. In this instance, a patient approach with a thoughtful prosecutor resulted in a late-admission into diversionary outcome that was utterly unavailable at arraignment. These sorts of outcomes quite literally make our month.

A guideline sentence projected into the 180-month range will be concluded in less than a year in state prison, for this fortunate young man. A client with an extensive criminal history, for a variety of complex offenses, was able to negotiate (after ample proof of treatment-readiness and a commitment to sobriety) a Challenge-Incarceration-Program-eligible (call for an explanation of this program for clients with a long history of convictions) sentence of less than forty months. God willing and the trains on time, that client will be back in his family's arms in less than eight months; this, notwithstanding facing a true term of more than ten years for the (amply proven) alleged misconduct. No client is a lost cause, no case is too difficult, no circumstances are too damning for the lawyers at North Star.

Misdemeanor 4th Degree DWI. Client had a breath alcohol concentration of .23, a significantly high reading that usually does not lead to a misdemeanor plea. This favorable result was obtained due to the strategic negotiations and proactive approach from the client. To show just how favorable of a result this was, an experience defense attorney pled his client to a gross misdemeanor offense for a first-time DWI with .20 reading. So, with similar, but worse facts, Mr. Gempeler obtained a significantly better result.

Client pled to a petty misdemeanor - a non-crime by law - disorderly conduct. In this matter, artful management of the court calendar and careful redemptive efforts by and for a thoughtful client resulted in all criminal counts being dismissed in favor of a petty plea, and a small assessment of costs. No other consequences will ensue, and the client is ecstatic. Considering the serious nature of the alleged offense and the consequences that can ensue from it, this is a remarkable result obtained by the attorneys at North Star.

Case Dismissed, on motion of Defense. Early Discovery demand and artful arguments on absence-of-evidence turns into justice for our client. Client was facing up to a year in jail and/or a $3,000 fine. Cases like this shows just how having an attorney represent you can make a world of difference.

Case Dismissed. This client, in a years-long dispute with his neighbors regarding the conduct of our client's family, had faced multiple prosecutions relating to this Harassment Restraining Order, but that order and these charges were all dismissed on motion of the defense. Your lawyer needs to know how to artfully refuse to take 'no' for an answer, and time the motion for dismissal with extraordinary care. North Star does this routinely.

Continuance for Dismissal. The terms of the agreement are minimal - small fine, no entry at place of theft, and no same or similar incidents (a non-issue with a clean record before this incident). With the client facing the possibility of losing her job if there was ever a plea or conviction, this was the necessary result obtained through the appropriate approach by North Star attorneys.

Plead to one disorderly conduct and the other case is dismissed. Client received a stay of imposition on one case and had no jail or jail alternative (such as STS) imposed, despite being charged with two disorderly conducts in a matter of months for drunken misconduct in a residential community. The end game is the client has to comply with non-burdensome probationary conditions and pay the minimum fine. Considering what he was facing, the client was thrilled with this outcome and knowing we limited the possible negative collateral consequences that can stem from two convictions during a short period of time.