Reduced after argument to Gross Misdemeanor. After more than 2 years of negotiation and litigation, this matter was presented to a judge on motion to sentence as a gross misdemeanor, with no jail time to serve, with the State opposing our request. We prepared the client for his pre-sentence interview carefully and well, researched all issues in framing our arguments, and exited the courtroom with a young man having avoided a life-altering felony outcome. He keeps his job, his living arrangements, and his HOPE, all moving forward and intact.

Time Served. A client already serving a probationary sentence for First Degree Assault in Minnesota was ordered to return to northwestern Wisconsin to face a completely separate matter, with a presumptive sentence in the decades in length. After negotiations, and a comprehensive investigation by Mr. Adkins and his local counsel, the State dismissed all serious felony counts and permitted the case to resolve as a low-level felony concerning a failure to prevent another person from selling narcotics. This gentleman's life gets restarted, he can return to his family and his employment, with conditions he will easily handle to avoid a return to jail or a trip to prison. This is another example of the lengths to which North Star will travel to assist you and your family: Dan has practiced in 15 states and federal jurisdictions already, and can obtain the right to practice in every state. We maintain a strong national network of firms to help in any/every state where you might have legal issues.

Probation, time served. A young lady tied deeply into a high-profile and infamous prostitution ring avoided as many as 23 years in prison--what her co-defendant received--and received a time served outcome on a downward departure agreement with the State, with Dan Adkins's assistance. Intense negotiations and a respectful personal relationship with the opposing team made all the difference in this case, and the client gets to resume her efforts to recover from some disastrous choices.

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.

No Jail, waiver of mandatory prison term. As in so many situations in Minnesota, a conviction for the offense of failing to register can implicate a mandatory minimum prison sentence, but aggressive and creative lawyering can avoid this punishing outcome. This client worked his ass off to correct the mistake he'd made in neglecting to stay in contact with local law enforcement, and was credited for the time he'd already spent in custody--2 nights--rather than head off to Minnesota Correctional Facility--St. Cloud for eight months or longer. If you face a mando sentence, as they are called, contact North Star without delay. You need seasoned professionals, and the sooner you retain them, the better your outlook will be and will STAY.

Client straight pled to the single count and we successfully argued for a gross misdemeanor sentence. The client engaged in text communications that were damning and led to an attempt to hire an undercover officer posing as a 17 year old for sexual acts. The client listened to Mr. Gempeler's counsel about being proactive in addressing any potential underlying sexual deviancy. He completed a day-long John's School, devoted to education on sex trafficking to offenders. He took a lot from this class and presented himself as the right candidate, deserving of a gross misdemeanor sentence. To go the extra mile, we hired a private consultant to prepare our own pre-sentence investigation to ensure that our client would come across to the judge in the best light possible. This proved critical to Mr. Gempeler's ability to artfully argue for the gross misdemeanor sentence. For a client with zero criminal history and in the process of starting his own business, avoiding a felony prostitution record was necessary. This is a difficult outcome to achieve, but done so because of the thoughtful and creative manner in which Mr. Gempeler navigated the case.

Client avoids the requirement that he register for a decade or longer as a sex offender, avoids a nasty series of onerous probationary requirements, and returns to his family with a Stay of Imposition of Sentence. Legal arguments including the impact of the First Amendment motivated the State to reach a satisfactory plea deal for this exceptional client, who used the event to soul-search and commit to a far more cautious outlook.

In a Washington County matter, Dan Adkins successfully sought and received a probationary sentence for a young person who nearly killed a friend in an alcohol-fueled event. Had this matter been charged as attempted homicide, a sentence in the hundreds of months would have been the starting point, for either negotiations or a result after a guilty verdict. As it is, aggressive work by the legal team and a tremendous commitment on the part of the client to address mental health and drug/alcohol dependency issues in residential treatment brought about a remarkable result. After a relatively short spell on probationary conditions, this person can move forward positively and thoughtfully, having never visited the inside of a Minnesota Correctional Facility. Truly incredible result.