Plea to domestic assault by strangulation via Norgaard (i.e. too drunk to recall the facts) and received a gross misdemeanor sentence. Not only was the agreement with the State a departure to a gross misdemeanor, but it called for no time to be served and the minimum conditions while on probation. The client knew he made mistakes on the night in question, but could not afford a felony conviction. He completed some proactive steps to take accountability and Mr. Gempeler leveraged the few favorable facts to achieve this fantastic outcome.

Plea to a misdemeanor riot and fifth degree assault. Mr. Adkins may have outdone himself, here. This case concerned an all out melee, neighbors fighting with farm implements and (sharp!) garden tools, resulting in two deaths… but after nearly five years of wrangling, and a multitude of close calls on motions to dismiss, the case finally resolved as a misdemeanor riot, and fifth degree assault, with a plan for expungement after a very short term of probation. Complex jurisdictional arguments and a double jeopardy debate made this result achievable, but man alive, not predictable… and the client can return to his life without fear, without unreasonable sanctions, and with a new lease on life. Fantastic results.

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?

Plea to four counts of felony tax evasion, sentenced to probation only, no time to serve, minimum fine, and simply cooperate with an ongoing audit with the Dept. of Revenue. Additionally, the companion case with the same charges against the client's wife is dismissed entirely. After extensive litigation and creative negotiations, the North Star team - and it was a true team effort with multiple attorneys handling these files - found a resolution that accomplished exactly what the client and his wife needed. The client is self-employed and not hampered by these criminal records, whereas his wife is in an industry where these records would cripple her chances of maintaining employment. The plea deal saved their livelihoods and put them on track to have the real fight with the Dept. of Revenue in the proper venue - tax arbitration and court.

Outright dismissal! A complete win! Mr. Adkins took this wonderful lady, who had made some unfortunate decisions with a bequest in the many thousands of dollars, and withdrew her from the justice system completely, with an expedited expungement in the works. Hustle matters, in the accountability game, as does creativity and accountability. In this instance, no record impact will result, no headaches, no fines, nothing. North Star Criminal Defense is absurdly proud of the record we make, every day, every month, but we are prouder still of the wonderful humans we get to assist, and the incredible stories of recovery of which we get to be a small, but integral, part. Hire us, and watch what we can do!

Plea to one 1st degree drug sale charge, rest of the charges dismissed, and granted a dispositional departure - client will not go to prison. Client was facing 62 months as part of a presumptive guideline sentence. At the outset, this seemed like a foregone conclusion given that the individuals who bought from him overdosed and nearly avoided death, and our client had a massive amount of drugs and sales paraphernalia in his apartment at the time of the search. Not to mention, our client was on probation for a prior drug offense. Despite these bad facts, Mr. Gempeler worked closely with the client and his family to get him on the right track and to truly change his life. After two years of sobriety, surrounding himself with supportive family and friends, devoting himself to his faith and helping others in their sober journeys, Mr. Gempeler made a compelling and convincing argument to get a dispositional departure. Now, the client is on probation, subject to more than manageable conditions, and he has his new life in front of him. Truly, a lifesaving two years and outcome.

In a near-unheard of resolution, Mr. Adkins convinced the State to reduce this hundreds-of-thousands lost via fraud case to a misdemeanor, with an agreed-upon early termination of probation at 6 months, and an agreement in advance for expungement. This defendant will very soon have no record, notwithstanding evidence sufficient that a prior trial attorney entered a plea against the defendant’s wishes… but rather than get bogged in a years-long, hard-to-prevail appeal process, Dan simply got creative, and the result is better than could possibly have been expected. The family is intact, and thrilled, with dad back in the fold, no felony record, job intact, and pain all but gone!

Outright dismissal! After facing a daunting case with a potential seven-year prison sentence and years of probation, the client’s charges were completely dropped with prejudice following a groundbreaking investigation that exposed serious misconduct by the lead law enforcement officer. This total dismissal means the charges can never be refiled, allowing the client to return home to his children. The joy and relief stemming from these results are profound—a testament to the power of justice when integrity is restored.