Plea to DWI, but no jail time. This case, concerning a VERY high BAC and a prior within ten years, was looking ripe for a six-month mandatory minimum jail sentence at the outset, particularly in a greater Minnesota jurisdiction known for being tough on repeat offenders. Mr. Adkins worked his tail off, and secured a NO JAIL outcome, with only a minimal fine and completion of the Interlock protocol (which was already in place to retain driving privileges). The right lawyer? We have him, on staff. Don't delay.

Stay of imposition. The client blew a .21. Though it was a first-time offense, that is an awfully high reading that prosecutors rarely move off of. With an initial offer to straight plea, the North Star team worked with the client in crafting a negotiating strategy to earn a better outcome. With no legal defense, the client decided to not drive for a year while revoked and stayed stone-cold sober. Eventually, the prosecutor agreed to a stay of imposition, which means the client will only have a misdemeanor record once he successfully completes the minimum 2-years probation. On top of that, there is no jail to serve and we even avoided the DWI assessment penalty that this county likes to impose when a reading is above .16. All in all, the client is very happy to have a misdemeanor record and no jail to serve - a great result given the facts of the case.

Plea to an amended count of Careless Driving. The sentence called for neither jail nor community service. She paid a minimal fine and didn't even have to complete a DWI course, which is typical for a DWI-type case, due to a positive chemical dependency assessment that only recommended a MADD panel. The North Star team did not have any viable legal defenses and the reading was a high .10. Nonetheless, the plea negotiations led to this terrific result for a young woman that needed to avoid a DWI conviction.

Client, staring down a six-month mandatory jail sentence and a permanent record for a horrible accident, walks out of a virtual hearing with no jail to serve, his vehicle returned, a conviction on radically reduced counts, and his license intact. Aggressive negotiations and timely treatment efforts, by Mr. Adkins and his client, respectively, result in a fantastic conclusion.

Plea to an amended count of Careless Driving. Client blew a .12 and had no defense. Typically, this means a plea to a misdemeanor DWI with STS - community work service through probation that is strenuous work. But, with the North Star team, the typical result is not good enough and they pushed for the atypical and incredible result of a plea to an amended count of Careless Driving. On top of that, the client is on probation to the court and does not need to do community work service through the County. For a young woman with a bright future, she could not be happier that she decided to hire North Star to fight for her.

Plea to a single gross misdemeanor DWI. Sometimes, the facts simply don't permit a plea to a less serious offense. When the client registers a .20 and has driving conduct that imperiled others on the road, the only fair outcome is to plead as charged. Without any legitimate defense and a client that did not want to go to trial, the North Star team refocused their negotiations on limiting the impact from the criminal sentence. The first round of negotiations left an offer that includes 8 days as a jail alternative and a lengthy probationary period. Through our zealous advocacy, the client will have no time to serve - either in custody or via community work service - a reasonable fine, and, most importantly, probation to the court for fewer years than initially offered. The end game is one where the client has no affirmative obligations while on probation to the court (which saves her money). So, even when facing long odds, the North Star team was still able to negotiate a very favorable outcome.

Plea to an amended count of failing to drive with due care as a misdemeanor. The sentence included no time to serve, minimal community service, and probation to the court - which means he is not being monitored and only needs to remain law abiding for the next year. The client lived out of state and never had to show up for court, too, which was an added bonus. The North Star team leveraged some unique legal issues with a smart, but stubborn prosecutor, to eventually land this incredible plea deal that the client could not pass up. For a business man, it was exactly what he needed to ensure he can stay on track with his life.

Plea to an amended count of Careless Driving. This is a remarkable outcome considering: (1) the client blew a .14 and (2) we had no meaningful defense to the charges. The stop was good. The investigation was done correctly. Ample evidence to support probable cause. Yet, the North Star team was undeterred. Counseling the client on the proactive steps and information we needed to make a strong pitch in negotiations, the team set out to get this incredible result. Thankfully, a good relationship with the prosecutor also aided in our efforts. The client was beyond thrilled to avoid a DWI conviction on what she assumed was a lost cause. THIS is a prime example as to why you get the North Star team on your side.