Blog – Robert J. Shane
Driving Under the Influence or Marijuana in Minnesota
It's a crime to drive a car in Minnesota when a person is under the influence of a controlled substance. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169A.20. Marijuana is defined in Minnesota as a Schedule I controlled substance. The punishment for a conviction for driving under the influence of marijuana can range from county jail time to imprisonment. Charges can vary from a 4th Degree misdemeanor DWI to felony DWI depending on the number of prior DWI convictions or license revocations a person has within [...]
When Can Police Walk a Narcotics Detection Dog Down the Hallway?
Police are required to have a "reasonable, articulable suspicion" of drug-related activity before they will be allowed to walk a trained narcotics-detection dog down the hallway of your apartment building. The Minnesota Constitution protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by the police. Evidence obtained as the result of an illegal search and seizure will be suppressed by the court and can not be used against you at trial. Suppression of the evidence is the price the [...]
The Best Defense in a MN DWI Case
If your criminal defense attorney is able to suppress the use of the blood, breath or urine test results in your Minnesota DWI case, you will have found the key to winning your case. The use of a chemical test result by the prosecution is critical to a successful DWI prosecution. How does an experienced DWI attorney suppress the chemical test result? The defense lawyer will file a motion with the court [...]
When Can I be Charged with Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle?
It's a felony offense in Minnesota for a driver to flee or to attempt to flee a police officer who is lawfully discharging his official duties when the driver knows or reasonably should know that he is being pursued by a police officer. The case normally begins by the officer attempting to execute a stop for a traffic violation, a cancelled or revoked driver's license, or for an outstanding warrant. The case usually involves a driver increasing his speed to well over 100 [...]
Do I Have a Right to Make a Phone Call from Jail?
Yes, any person who is newly admitted as an inmate to a jail facility in Minnesota has a right to make either a local or collect long-distance phone call. The right to make a phone call from jail allows you to contact either a family member or a significant other and applies during the admission process. Inmates are also allowed to keep in contact with family members or significant others during their jail confinement. [...]
When Can Police Conduct a Pat Frisk?
Before the police can conduct a pat frisk, there must first be a lawful investigative stop. Police are allowed to temporarily detain a person or stop a car when there is reasonable suspicion that a crime has been or is being committed. The standard is less than the probable cause required for an arrest but more than a mere whim or idle curiosity. The Fourth Amendment prohibits any unreasonable search and seizure. If the investigative [...]
Minnesota Robbery Defense Lawyer
One of the central issues for the jury to decide in every robbery case is the identification of the suspect. The state will need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is the person who in fact committed the robbery. A conviction will not stand if it is based on inaccurate testimony. A person can be charged with simple robbery in Minnesota when there is a taking of personal property from a victim [...]
What to Do when the Feds Attempt to Seize and Forfeit Your Cash?
Let's say you are at the Minneapolis airport and happen to be carrying $50,000.00 in cash in your backpack. The cash does not represent proceeds from any criminal activity. Instead, you are a hardworking American citizen who dutifully saved the cash from the profits made running a small business. Your plan is fly to California and use the cash to purchase another small business at a bargain price. You have been waiting patiently in line and are about to go through airport security. Drops [...]
When Can Police Freeze a Suspected Drug House to Get a Search Warrant?
Officers who conduct a lawful arrest may freeze a suspected drug house while obtaining a search warrant. Officers must have probable cause to believe that evidence of criminal activity may be found on the premises. When officers freeze a drug house, all occupants will be required to stay and will be detained while other officers engage in the process of obtaining a search warrant. No police search can occur in the suspected drug house without a warrant. [...]
When Can You Withdraw a Guilty Plea in MN?
A defendant in a Minnesota criminal case has no absolute right to withdraw a guilty plea. The Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure allow for the withdrawal of a guilty plea in two different situations. In the first, a judge may grant the request either before or after sentencing "if the withdrawal is necessary to correct a manifest injustice." A manifest injustice occurs when a guilty plea is invalid. A guilty plea is considered invalid if it is [...]
Mpls. Police Use a Drug Dealer’s Cell Phone to Track Him Home
In a recent Minneapolis narcotics investigation, officers used a cell phone locator tool to track a drug dealer to his residence. A confidential informant provided police officers with information that a suspect known as "Dennis" was dealing large amounts of powdered and crack cocaine in North Minneapolis. The informant supplied officers with the suspect's cell phone number and a description of the vehicles driven by the drug dealer. Police Officers arranged a surveillance in order to track the location of [...]
How to Avoid a Conviction on a Minnesota Theft Offense
If you are charged with a theft offense in Minnesota, your case may be eligible for a diversion program. A diversion is a treatment program available to theft offenders and is an alternative to a conviction. The program requires you to participate in treatment and abide by other terms and conditions imposed by the judge at the time of sentencing. If you are successful in fulfilling all the conditions of your sentence, the charge [...]
Minneapolis Riot Defense Attorney
In Minnesota, any person charged with rioting is facing a very serious criminal offense. The riot statute divides the offense into three different degrees: first-degree riot, second-degree riot, and third-degree riot. First Degree Riot is the most serious but requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that (1) the suspect is one of three or more persons assembled; (2) the assembly disturbed the public peace by an intentional act or threat of unlawful use of force or violence [...]
When are the Police Allowed to Detain a Citizen in MN?
The United States and Minnesota Constitutions protect citizens from unreasonable seizures by the police. If your liberty is restrained by the police through a show of authority or physical force, consider yourself detained. A seizure occurs when a reasonable person believes that he or she is not free to terminate police questioning or to walk away from the encounter. You may be seized by police when there is a threatening presence of several officers, they display a [...]
MN Law: A Downward Departure Lowers a Prison Sentence
In a prison commit case, the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines prescribe a range for the sentence that "is presumed to be appropriate." The idea is to maintain uniformity and proportionality in sentencing for all defendants with similar charges and criminal histories. A district court judge in Minnesota may depart downward from the presumptive guideline prison commit sentence upon a showing of "substantial and compelling circumstances." Even if there are grounds to justify a downward durational departure a judge [...]
Charged with Soliciting Prostitution in a Public Place?
If you have been charged in Minnesota with gross misdemeanor soliciting prostitution in a public place, you may have an excellent defense. The typical fact pattern involves the police setting up a sting operation where they create a fictional "prostitute" with a pretty name like "Brittany." Brittany then posts an online advertisement offering to perform sexual services at a location selected by her. The advertisement includes a phone number where potential customers can contact her by text [...]
Convicted of Felon in Possession of a BB Gun?
If you have been convicted in Minnesota for the offense of felon in possession of a firearm for possessing a BB gun, you may be entitled to compensation for any time you served in prison or the county jail. The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that you can not be convicted of the crime of felon in possession of a firearm if you are a felon and possessed a BB gun. The court [...]
What Police Look for when Making a Drugged Driving Arrest and What Can Follow
If you are stopped for a traffic or equipment violation, you may end up with more than a citation. A police officer who is trained in drug recognition may notice certain symptoms that indicate recent drug use. If you display these symptoms, you could be arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance. The symptoms displayed will vary depending on the type of drug consumed. Cannabis use results in dilated pupils, increased pulse and blood [...]
Felony DWI Defense
I defended a case recently in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota where my client was charged with a felony DWI offense. This was a 42 month prison commit case upon conviction as he had a prior felony DWI conviction from 13 years ago. The case was weak from a defense standpoint. Our best option was to position the client as a person who was capable of rehabilitation in a probationary setting. Under Minnesota law, you can file a [...]
The Defense of a Felony Strangulation Charge
The charge of felony strangulation is a serious offense in Minnesota as the crime places the life of the victim at risk. Strangulation is defined as the intentional impeding of breathing by applying pressure to the neck or throat or by blocking the nose or mouth of another person. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=609.2247. The neck is a vulnerable place for applying pressure and unconsciousness can result in as little as 7-14 seconds. There may be physical evidence of the crime in the form [...]
Cell Phone Search Law in MN
Before police are allowed to search your cell phone, they must first obtain a search warrant from a judge based on a probable cause determination. The probable cause requirement means that there must be a fair probability that evidence of a crime will be found in the contents of the cell phone. In other words, there must be a sufficient "nexus" between the suspected criminal activity and your phone. A judge will review a search warrant affidavit when deciding whether or [...]
Pat-Frisk Law in Minnesota
When can police conduct a pat-down search of your person? Let's assume you were driving your car on a Saturday night in downtown Minneapolis and just made wide turn with a squad car trailing directly behind you. You happen to be carrying a hard cigarette pack containing a small baggie of crystal methamphetamine in your right front pocket. You also have a baggie of meth falling out of your jacket pocket located on your front passenger seat. You slow [...]
Defense Tips for Suspects in a Criminal Case
CONSENT SEARCHES. You may be asked by a police officer to consent to the search of your person, home, or car. What should you do? Just say no. DO NOT sign a Consent to Search form. The police will make all kinds of dire threats to gain your consent to search, such as: (1) we will get a search warrant if you don't cooperate; (2) you will be arrested; (3) we will bring in the narcotics detection [...]
Carrying a Pistol in a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence
What's the law in Minnesota about carrying a pistol in a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance? If you have a permit to carry and the pistol is located on or about your person or clothing, it's a misdemeanor for a first time offense. A second or subsequent offense is a gross misdemeanor. The police are authorized to request a preliminary breath test in order to determine whether or not to [...]
Marijuana in a Motor Vehicle Law and the Trunk Exception
What is the law in Minnesota regarding marijuana in a motor vehicle? The most important point to remember is that it's a felony for a person to possess more than 42.5 grams of marijuana in a car, on their person or anywhere within their possession or control. If a person is the owner or driver of a motor vehicle and choses to transport 1.4 grams or less of marijuana inside the car, the offense is a petty misdemeanor and not a crime in Minnesota. The offense [...]
