Creative careless driving outcome. This means the client receives a stay of adjudication to a DWI charge and pleads and is convicted of a careless driving charge at the same time. The end result is a conviction just to the careless driving, while the DWI charge is dismissed. This is a unique outcome and one that was needed for a client that does a lot of work in Canada. What makes this even more unique is that Mr. Gempeler obtained this, despite the client blowing a .15 and having no legal defenses to work with. To get a creative non-DWI outcome on a .15 is almost unheard of - yet, that's what we do at North Star Criminal Defense.

Plea to the CVO and receive a durational departure to a gross misdemeanor sentence. This is an incredible outcome due to the severity of the case - .27 BAC and the passenger suffered serious, life-long injuries. But Mr. Gempeler and the North Star team worked hard to demonstrate to the Court that the client was both amenable to probation and subjected to ongoing emotional and physical abuse by the passenger. As a result, the case was less onerous than typical CVO cases due to the domestic abuse ensuing. It is a unique argument to make, but one that carried the day and earned such a rare outcome for CVO cases.

Plea to an amended count of careless driving and the separate hit-and-run case is dismissed in its entirety. For a non-citizen client in the midst of the lengthy citizenship process, this outcome was critical to minimize any negative impact to his application. Mr. Gempeler worked hard to negotiate this global resolution, including pushing back against the traffic ticket prosecutor who initially wants a straight plea. Undeterred, Mr. Gempeler got creative, persistent, and eventually achieved exactly what the client needed.

This case involved Mr. Adkins securing a deal several judges simply would not endorse, necessitating a clever change in approach—with the identical result, no jail, short probationary term, and a modest fine. The accident involved in this very-high-test DUI, frankly, could have cost a life or two, but the client’s incredible hustle getting and staying sober, and devoted and inventive arguments from Dan, delivered the day. Long-established and carefully-curated relationships with both judges and prosecutors made this possible. We have that, statewide, and frankly throughout the Midwestern Region… if your lawyer doesn’t have our reputation for hustle, and results, why are you with that clown?

This matter, involving a bit of a lifetime drunken driver, took massive creativity and passionate advocacy from Mr. Adkins, to overcome a client who picked up another scary DUI while this one was just pending… and after some fits and starts at treatment, the client dove meaningfully into full recovery, impressed the hell out of a very skeptical judge, and avoided all but the most minor/unavoidable components of a ’super two’ DUI sentence—only 17 days of work release, the balance of a mandatory minimum sentence on house arrest, and a shortened probation term… which will help immeasurably when the second super two DUI is considered next month. You will see insane results like this with Dan and James and Sean, but only if you hire us…

Plea to an amended count of Careless Driving. This is yet another example of why it pays to get the North Star team to push for the atypical, unlikely results. Client blew a .13 and had no legal defenses. Worst of all, the client's job required travel to Canada, meaning a DWI conviction could lead to a loss of his job. Mr. Gempeler and the North Star team got to work. The client followed our advice on proactive steps to take and got the information we needed to rely upon when negotiating. Finally, on the doorstep of trial, Mr. Gempeler leaned on his prior, good relationship with the prosecutor and got the outcome needed - a careless driving. On top of that, the plea deal called for no jail, no community service, and the bare minimum of terms of probation. The client was pleasantly surprised that Mr. Gempeler managed to pull this off for him.

Plea to an amended count of careless driving. While getting a careless driving in a first-time DWI is always a great result, this one is particularly notable because the client blew a .14. Typically, a non-DWI outcome for first-timers is unavailable when you have a reading .10 or higher. So, to get this outcome - without any real legal defense - on a .14 is almost unheard of. Unheard of except for the attorneys at North Star. We used our client's proactive steps, unique circumstances about employment impact, and our great working relationship with the prosecutor to get this fantastic result. The client was shocked we managed to pull this off and thankful he got referred to the North Star team.

Plea to an amended count of careless driving. On top of that fantastic outcome, the client is merely placed on unsupervised probation for one-year with no additional obligations going forward. What makes this particular outcome so remarkable is that the client blew a higher test with a prior conviction - but the legal issues Mr. Adkins raised meant the State wanted no chance of an acquittal or unfavorable judicial orders. Client is ecstatic, and returns to a commercial driving gig without a long suspension.