Minnesota Criminal Defense Blog | Keyser Law, P.A.

KEYSER LAW BLOG

The Different Ways You Can Potentially Shoplift in Minnesota

AUG. 27 2019

We say shoplifting, you probably picture a young girl standing at a clothing rack, glancing side-to-side, then slipping something small into her bag.

The fact is shoplifting is an offense committed by people from all walks of life. A congressional candidate recently accused of shoplifting 279 items from a Target store, for instance. She was allegedly caught attempting to take the merchandise from a store without paying for it. She now faces felony-level charges.

Carrying away

Buffer

How Minnesotans Can Get Rid of Their Juvenile Records

AUG. 15 2019

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Expungement / Criminal Record Sealing | Juvenile Law

It’s true, the juvenile justice system does tend to go easier on juvenile offenders than adult courts would, focusing on rehabilitation before young people begin facing the real responsibilities (and punitive measures) of an adult.

What’s also true, a youth’s responsibilities aren’t always finished upon completion of community service or offense-related program. Living with a criminal record, juvenile or otherwise, could cost you a job, a degree, and certain housing.

If you know your Minnesota juvenile record

Buffer

Charged As an Adult: In Minnesota, It Can Happen as Young as 14

AUG. 11 2019

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Criminal Defense | Juvenile Law

In 2016, the Church of St. Mary in Melrose burned to the ground in what was determined to be an act of arson. However, investigators were unable to identify the perpetrator until two years after the blaze.

In 2018, a St. Cloud teen confessed to setting the fire. Because he was only 13 at the time of the incident, he is being prosecuted for First Degree Arson in the Stearns County Juvenile Court. Had he been one year

Buffer

You’re Facing a MN Drug Charge – Should You Take a Plea Deal?

JULY 31 2019

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Drug Crimes | Plea Deals/Plea Bargains

If you’ve been hit with a drug crime charge, you’re no doubt apprehensive about what comes next. You know the sentence you could face if convicted is potentially life-altering. The prospect of a court trial can also be frightening.

Then, the prosecution offers a plea deal: Admit your guilt in exchange for reduced charges. Complete your lessened sentence. It all seems to go away.

The reality is that 90-95% of state and federal criminal cases, including those

Buffer

Christopher Keyser Earns AV Preeminent Award for 2019

JULY 29 2019

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Christopher Keyser | Criminal Defense | Criminal Law Specialist | Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Award

I’m proud to announce I received the Martindale-Hubbell Preeminent Ranking Award for 2019. This means I am among top-ranking attorneys as reviewed by my peers. It’s a huge honor for me. But what does this mean for you?

Peer reviews are a critical component in evaluating and selecting a criminal defense attorney. You read reviews for every other professional service in your life – doctors, mechanics, accountants, contractors, etc. – so why not do the same when choosing

Buffer

Felony vs. Misdemeanor Charges: How Minnesota Handles Each

JULY 18 2019

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Criminal Defense | Felonies | Misdemeanors

When facing criminal charges, one of the first and most important questions from a defense perspective is whether you’re being charged with a felony or a misdemeanor.

Why so important?

Because here in Minnesota, felony-level convictions are far more likely to carry a jail sentence, and a felony on your rap sheet has much longer-lasting consequences.

In this post, we provide a brief of common criminal offenses, how they are typically charged, and the consequences generally associated

Buffer

Minnesota’s Sex Trafficking Problem and Charges: What You Should Know

JULY 14 2019

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Sex Crimes | Sex Trafficking

The words “sex trafficking” conjure up images of professional criminal enterprises run by organized crime, gangsters and other hardened criminals. However, this isn’t always the case.

In fact, many seemingly ordinary people are charged with sex trafficking. For example, a St. Cloud couple was recently charged with sex trafficking and promotion of prostitution.

The couple ran a massage parlor, which was reported to the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force for suspected sex trafficking. Detectives found the

Buffer