Minnesota Criminal Defense Blog

KEYSER LAW BLOG

How Minnesota’s Three Strikes Law Impacts Repeat Offenders in Minneapolis

JUL. 21 2026

People often ask whether Minnesota has a “three strikes” law. The short answer is that Minnesota does not use a California-style three-strikes system where a third conviction automatically triggers a mandatory life sentence. However, repeat convictions can still dramatically increase sentencing exposure in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota.

Instead of a single three-strikes rule, Minnesota uses a mix of sentencing guidelines, offense-specific enhancement statutes, and repeat-offender or dangerous-offender provisions. Prior convictions can affect how a new charge is filed, whether

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What Is the Difference Between Probation and Parole in Minnesota?

JUN. 30 2026

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Parole | Probation

Probation and parole are often discussed together, but they do not mean the same thing in Minnesota. The main difference is when supervision happens. Probation is usually ordered by a judge instead of sending someone to prison, while parole or supervised release generally happens after someone has served part of a prison sentence.

That difference matters. The rules, supervising authority, violation process, and possible consequences are not always the same. A person on probation may be sent back to

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Can You Be Charged with Theft for Not Returning a Borrowed Item in Minnesota

JUN. 18 2026

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Property Crimes | Theft Crimes

In Minnesota, borrowing something and failing to return it does not always remain a simple misunderstanding between two people. Depending on the facts, it can raise questions that sit somewhere between civil disagreement and criminal liability, especially when the item has value or the original owner believes it was intentionally kept.

Minnesota theft laws are not limited to breaking into property or taking items by force. In certain situations, you can be charged with theft for continued possession of

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Can a Domestic Violence Charge Be Expunged in Minnesota?

JUN. 1 2026

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Domestic Violence

A domestic assault conviction does not automatically disqualify someone from getting their record sealed in Minnesota. What it does mean is that the automatic Clean Slate process is not available; you have to petition. At Keyser Law P.A., our Minneapolis criminal defense attorney has helped clients seal domestic assault records throughout Hennepin County and across the state.

Why the Clean Slate Act Does Not Cover Domestic Assault

When Minnesota expanded its automatic expungement law in 2023, many people

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How Minneapolis Courts Handle Domestic Violence Cases Without Victim Cooperation

MAY. 26 2026

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Domestic Abuse | Domestic Assault | Domestic Violence

In Minneapolis, a domestic violence case does not end because the alleged victim stops cooperating or recants. Prosecutors in Hennepin County are trained to pursue charges without victim testimony, and the state has legal tools to make that possible. Keyser Law, P.A. defends people charged with domestic assault throughout the Minneapolis area, including cases where the alleged victim has changed their account or refused to participate.

The Prosecutor Decides Whether Your Case Proceeds, Not the Victim

This surprises

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Can Illegal Police Stops Lead to Dismissed Charges in Minnesota Traffic Cases

MAY. 6 2026

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: DWI/DUI | Unlawful Traffic Stop

An unlawful traffic stop can result in the suppression of all evidence collected after the stop, and without that evidence, the prosecution’s case often collapses.

Under both the U.S. Constitution and the Minnesota Constitution, a police officer must have a specific, articulable reason to believe a traffic violation or criminal activity occurred before pulling you over. At Keyser Law P.A., our Minneapolis criminal defense team challenges the legality of traffic stops in every case where a stop is central

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How Witness Credibility Issues Can Strengthen Your Minneapolis Criminal Defense

APR. 20 2026

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Criminal Defense

In Minnesota, witness testimony often drives criminal prosecutions, but a witness’s credibility is not off-limits. The defense has the right to challenge how truthful, consistent, and unbiased a witness actually is. When those challenges land, they can reduce the weight of the state’s evidence, create reasonable doubt, and in some cases, unravel the prosecution’s entire theory.

Prosecutors in Minneapolis and throughout Hennepin County lean heavily on eyewitnesses, informants, and cooperating co-defendants. Each of those witness types carries vulnerabilities: prior

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CASE EVALUATION FORM

KEYSER LAW BLOG

Why the Clean Slate Act Does Not Cover Domestic Assault

The Prosecutor Decides Whether Your Case Proceeds, Not the Victim

MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL CRIMINAL DEFENSE & DWI LAW FIRM SERVING

With offices in Minneapolis and Stillwater, Minnesota, Keyser Law, P.A. handles cases throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area including:

HENNEPIN COUNTY

WASHINGTON COUNTY

RAMSEY COUNTY

ANOKA COUNTY

DAKOTA COUNTY