Stay of adjudication to a misdemeanor domestic assault. For a registered nurse, avoiding a permanent record permitted the client to keep her nursing license and preserve her good record. Such an outcome was hard to come by with a prosecutor that was dead-set on getting a conviction. After lengthy negotiations and setting the case on for trial, the North Star team finally obtained the appropriate outcome for a deserving client. It's this diligence and willingness to fight that led to this fantastic outcome.

Mr. Adkins succeeded in getting this order dropped, after providing opposing counsel ample evidence to rebut her claims on behalf of her client. This avoids the collateral consequences, including a loss of gun rights, that almost always ensue from these civil/family orders. If you are served with a petition for a harassment order or a family-court order for protection, do not delay in calling Dan or James, and do NOT seek to handle this matter alone. Attorneys are essential to rights-protection generally, but nowhere more clearly than in these contentious matters.

Probation. This client was, shall we say, not quite ready for prime time, and continued to reside with his accuser, for many months after initial arrest. After intense and repeated negotiations, the felony was resolved as a Stay of Imposition (probation) with a modest jail term and staggered sentencing going forward, several DANCO violations dismissed, and the DANCO itself now formally removed. North Star is equal to all emergencies, and can handle any developments, including clients not quite ready to succeed.

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.

Dismissed. Client was aggressive in getting therapies in place after a poor choice of conduct, and his supportive spouse assisted Mr. Adkins in getting this matter dismissed outright well in advance of a trial. Like theft or perjury counts, domestic assaults have MASSIVE consequences even beyond jail and a jarring record of arrest/conviction. The collateral consequences here, including permanent loss of gun rights, would have been disastrous for the client, who can now continue his life, and any future job search, without fear of his Second Amendment rights being crushed.

Further proof that North Star has become the ONLY place to take a family member or friend with a raft of open matters, facing a multitude of sentences for a rash of misconduct. This client faced a massive hit in a neighboring state for violations of parole, and had enough open cases in Minnesota to face an almost larger term HERE. Mr. Adkins worked with prosecutors all over the state to reduce her exposure to no additional jail time, and prepared her to return to a program back in her state that will permit her to be home for the holidays this Fall. When you need your lawyers and their team to handle this sort of complication, and this many opposing prosecutors and cops, you'd be foolish not to call North Star. We have perfected this challenging effort.