Minneapolis Criminal Defense Lawyer for State and Federal Charges

When you are facing a criminal allegation in Minnesota, the decisions you make early can affect your freedom, record, career, family, and future. Whether you have been arrested, charged, contacted by police, or placed under investigation, you need to understand your rights before speaking with law enforcement or making decisions about your case.

Christopher Keyser is a Minnesota criminal defense attorney and the founder of Keyser Law, P.A. He represents clients facing serious criminal charges in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Stillwater, and throughout Minnesota. His defense practice includes DWI/DUI, assault, domestic assault, drug offenses, theft, robbery, criminal sexual conduct, federal crimes, probation violations, expungement, and other criminal defense matters.

Criminal cases move quickly. Prosecutors may begin reviewing evidence before you ever appear in court. Police reports, body camera footage, witness statements, search warrants, chemical tests, digital evidence, and prior records can all shape the direction of the case. An experienced defense attorney can help you understand the charges, evaluate the evidence, protect your constitutional rights, and begin developing a strategy before avoidable mistakes occur.

At Keyser Law, P.A., the goal is to provide strategic, proactive defense from the beginning of the case. That may mean challenging an unlawful stop or search, identifying weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence, negotiating for reduced or dismissed charges, preparing for trial, or helping you understand options that may protect your record and future.

Hear From Christopher Keyser About Criminal Defense in Minnesota

Every criminal case is different, but every case deserves careful attention, honest guidance, and a defense strategy built around the facts. Watch the video below to learn more about how Keyser Law, P.A. approaches criminal defense representation for clients facing serious charges in Minnesota.

What a Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Do Early in a Case

After an arrest or criminal charge, many people are unsure what to do next. Some want to explain their side of the story to police. Others hope the charge will go away on its own. Some assume that a misdemeanor or first-time offense is not serious enough to require legal help. These assumptions can create problems.

A criminal defense lawyer can help you understand what the government must prove, what evidence may exist, what defenses may apply, and what steps you should avoid taking while the case is pending. Early representation may also help preserve evidence, protect you from unnecessary statements, address release conditions, prepare for court, and begin discussions with prosecutors when appropriate.

Defense work is not limited to trial. A strong defense may involve investigation, negotiation, motion practice, constitutional challenges, sentencing advocacy, record-related planning, and strategic communication with the court and prosecution. The earlier that work begins, the more opportunity there may be to shape the direction of the case.

Arson

This type of criminal offense involves deliberately setting fire to a structure or land area, such as a house, car, or wooded area. You can also be charged with arson for failing to extinguish a fire you started, setting fire to possessions in order to claim insurance, or obstructing access to a fire hydrant.

Assault

Under Minnesota law, assault is considered an act intended to cause fear of immediate bodily injury or death, or an attempted or actual act causing bodily harm. You could be charged with assault for engaging in a fight with another person, touching another person without their consent

Residential Burglary

Minnesota law defines burglary as illegal entry into a residence with the intent to commit an offense, such as robbery, assault, or vandalism

Detox & Jail Release

In Minnesota, law enforcement and medical facilities can hold you against your will based on a mental or chemical health emergency. However, an attorney may be able to petition a district court judge to obtain your release.

Disorderly Conduct

Disorderly conduct is generally an act which tends to “alarm, anger or disturb others, or tends to provoke an assault or breach of peace.”

Domestic Assault / Domestic Violence

Assault charges are considered domestic assault offenses if you share a domestic relationship with the alleged victim. A domestic relationship could include current and former couples, parents and children, blood relatives, parents, and roommates

Drug Offenses

Drug crimes may include possession or sale of a variety of controlled substances, such as cocaine, heroin, or marijuana. The severity of these crimes typically depends on the amount and type of the substance in question

DWI / DUI

A DWI arrest can lead to criminal charges and consequences for your driver’s license. Keyser Law, P.A. represents clients facing first-time, repeat, and felony DWI allegations throughout Minnesota.

Expungement / Criminal Record Sealing

When you go through the legal process of expunging or sealing your criminal record, that record can no longer be accessed by authority figures such as employers and landlords. Expunging your criminal record can make it easier for you to find work, secure housing, and obtain loans

Federal Crimes

Federal crimes are crimes tried in federal courts under federal law, and are usually more serious than state-level offenses. Some common examples of federal offenses include white collar crimes, certain types of drug and sex crimes, and immigration crimes

Felonies

Far more serious than misdemeanors, felony charges almost always involve fairly lengthy jail sentences and other penalties that can upend your entire life

Fraud

There are all kinds of ways to commit fraud, and sometimes people may not even understand that they are doing it until they find themselves charged. Don’t face this serious offense alone.

Homicide & Murder

In Minnesota, homicide and murder charges can carry the most severe penalties and consequences. There are three degrees of murder, two degrees of manslaughter in addition to criminal vehicular homicide.

Juvenile Crimes

There is a very specific process that juvenile crimes follow in our state. If you want your child to have the best possible outcome in their case, you need to work with someone who understands the system and knows how to work within it.

Kidnapping

Kidnapping is a felony level offense in Minnesota. If a victim is released in a safe place without great bodily harm, the maximum punishment for kidnapping is 20 years imprisonment and/or a $35,000 fine. If a victim is not released in a safe place, or if a victim suffers great bodily harm during the course of a kidnapping, or if the person kidnapped is under the age of 16, the maximum punishment for kidnapping is 40 years imprisonment and/or a $50,000 fine. Kidnapping is different and separate from burglary, robbery, or assault charges.

Criminal Defense for Military Service Members

Captain Christopher Keyser currently serves as a Judge Advocate (JAG) in the U.S. Army Reserves. As a civilian, Captain Keyser is a criminal defense attorney who understands the consequences of military service members facing criminal charges.  

Probation Violations

The vast majority of criminal defendants are placed on probation rather than sent to jail. This is especially true for people charged with first-time offenses. Whenever the court places a defendant on probation, there is a jail or prison sentence stayed or "suspended" in order to provide incentive for the defendant to successfully complete probation, stay out of trouble, and prove to the court and community that he or she deserves a break.

Prostitution

The key to successfully defending Minnesota prostitution charges is a combination of knowing how the court system works, having solid relationships with prosecutors, and a willingness to bring the case to trial when the prosecution refuses to fairly negotiate. Minneapolis prostitution defense lawyer Christopher Keyser was named a Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, and has a Superb rating on Avvo.com.

Criminal Sexual Conduct / Sex Crimes

Criminal sexual conduct, commonly called “sex crimes,” is an umbrella term covering a variety of offenses, including indecent exposure, rape, child molestation, child pornography crimes, and prostitution crimes

Shoplifting / Retail Theft

Adults face the possibility of jail time even for the lowest level of shoplifting, and if someone under 18 engages in retail theft, parents or guardians can be held liable for up to $1,000. To protect your rights and future, you need a strong defense.

Simple Robbery

Minnesota defines simple robbery as the intentional taking of personal property from another with use or threatened use of imminent force. Simple robbery is a felony level offense carrying a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and/or a $20,000 fine. Simple robbery is different from burglary or other types of robbery offenses in Minnesota. Click our links to read about the differences.

Solicitation

Minneapolis solicitation defense lawyer Christopher Keyser is an aggressive trial attorney who wins cases. In every Minnesota solicitation case, Mr. Keyser works to get charges dismissed and keep your criminal record clear. When a dismissal is not possible, he pushes the solicitation case to trial.

Theft

Theft crimes in Minnesota range from stealing petty amounts of merchandise to thousands of dollars in bad checks, to stealing cars and embezzling corporate funds. Theft convictions leave a permanent and damaging stain on records that affect employment, housing, licenses, and loans. The punishments for theft are wide ranging depending on the type of theft offense involved.

Weapons Charges

Mr. Keyser has been helping people in Minnesota to battle weapons charges for years. He knows exactly what is needed to help you. Work with Chris Keyser and he will do everything in his power to get your charges reduced, dropped, or altogether dismissed.

White Collar Crimes

Because white collar crimes do not involve any physical violence, most people in Minnesota tend to view them as less serious offenses. After all, holding someone up at gunpoint is a far more disturbing image than clicking a few computer keys to access someone else’s money or credit information. But white collar crimes can be just as devastating to victims, and in many cases they affect a far larger group of people.

What Happens After You Are Charged With a Crime in Minnesota?

After a criminal charge is filed, the process may include an initial appearance, bail or release conditions, discovery, pretrial hearings, negotiations, motion practice, trial preparation, and sentencing if the case results in a plea or conviction. The exact process depends on the charge, the county, the court, the facts, your record, and whether the case is filed in state or federal court.

In many cases, the first court appearance is not the time to argue the entire case. It is often the beginning of the formal process. Important issues may include whether you are released, what conditions apply, whether a no-contact order is in place, whether your driver’s license or employment is affected, and what deadlines must be met.

A defense attorney can explain what each stage means and help you prepare for decisions that may affect the outcome. That includes whether to challenge evidence, negotiate with the prosecutor, pursue dismissal or a reduction of charges, prepare for trial, or seek a resolution designed to limit long-term harm.

Consequences of a Criminal Conviction in Minnesota

A criminal conviction can affect far more than the immediate court sentence. Depending on the charge, the consequences may include jail or prison time, probation, fines, restitution, community service, treatment requirements, ignition interlock, driver’s license issues, firearm restrictions, immigration consequences, professional licensing concerns, and a permanent criminal record.

Even after the court case ends, a conviction may affect employment, housing, education, security clearances, custody matters, military service, and future sentencing exposure. For certain charges, a conviction can also create registration requirements, mandatory minimum penalties, or long-term restrictions that are difficult to undo later.

This is why it is important to look beyond the immediate question of “What will happen in court?” A strong defense should consider both the legal case and the practical consequences that may follow you after the case is over.

How Keyser Law, P.A. Builds a Criminal Defense Strategy

The defense strategy in a criminal case depends on the facts, evidence, charge, jurisdiction, and client’s goals. In some cases, the focus may be on challenging whether police had a lawful basis to stop, search, question, or arrest the accused person. In others, the defense may focus on unreliable witnesses, insufficient evidence, mistaken identity, self-defense, lack of intent, constitutional violations, forensic issues, or weaknesses in the prosecution’s theory.

Keyser Law, P.A. may examine police reports, body camera footage, squad video, 911 calls, witness statements, chemical test results, search warrants, lab reports, digital records, and other evidence. The goal is to understand what the government can prove, what it cannot prove, and what legal or factual issues may improve the client’s position.

Some cases can be resolved through negotiation. Others require motions, evidentiary hearings, or trial preparation. A defense lawyer’s job is to help you understand the risks and options so you can make informed decisions at every stage.

Why Choose Keyser Law, P.A.?

Keyser Law, P.A. focuses on criminal defense for clients facing serious charges in Minnesota. Christopher Keyser brings courtroom experience, criminal-law focus, and strategic defense planning to cases involving misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, felonies, and federal allegations.

Clients turn to Keyser Law, P.A. for clear communication, direct guidance, and a defense strategy built on the facts of their case. A criminal charge can be stressful and overwhelming, but you should not have to navigate the system alone or make decisions without understanding the possible consequences.

From the first consultation through the resolution of the case, the firm works to protect clients’ rights, identify opportunities for defense, and pursue the best available outcome under the circumstances.

Related Criminal Defense Resources

If you are researching your options after an arrest or criminal charge, these resources may help you understand what to do next:

• Minnesota Criminal Defense FAQs
• Do I Need a Minneapolis Criminal Defense Lawyer?
• DWI/DUI Defense
• Assault Defense
• Domestic Assault Defense
• Drug Offenses
• Federal Crimes
• Criminal Sexual Conduct
• Probation Violations
• Expungement

Contact a Minneapolis Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

A criminal charge in Minnesota deserves immediate attention. Whether you are facing a sudden DWI arrest, a serious felony, a domestic assault allegation, a drug charge, a probation violation, or a federal investigation, the earlier you get legal advice, the sooner you can begin protecting your rights and future.

Keyser Law, P.A. represents clients in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Stillwater, and throughout Minnesota. Contact the firm to schedule a free initial consultation and speak with a criminal defense attorney about your case.

• Call the Minneapolis office at (612) 338-5007.
• Contact Keyser Law, P.A. online through the contact page.
• Speak with Christopher Keyser about the charges, evidence, risks, and possible defense strategy.