No Jail, waiver of mandatory prison term. As in so many situations in Minnesota, a conviction for the offense of failing to register can implicate a mandatory minimum prison sentence, but aggressive and creative lawyering can avoid this punishing outcome. This client worked his ass off to correct the mistake he’d made in neglecting to stay in contact with local law enforcement, and was credited fo
Client straight pled to the single count and we successfully argued for a gross misdemeanor sentence. The client engaged in text communications that were damning and led to an attempt to hire an undercover officer posing as a 17 year old for sexual acts. The client listened to Mr. Gempeler’s counsel about being proactive in addressing any potential underlying sexual deviancy. He completed a day-lo
A person dealing with a motivated and irate former lover, fearing false allegations and the related collateral explosions, hired North Star to manage his communications and seek to forestall any litigation or other challenges, and found success immediately and in short order. Roughly 25% of the work North Star provides to its clients takes place BEFORE charges are laid, or a lawsuit is filed–it i
Client avoids the requirement that he register for a decade or longer as a sex offender, avoids a nasty series of onerous probationary requirements, and returns to his family with a Stay of Imposition of Sentence. Legal arguments including the impact of the First Amendment motivated the State to reach a satisfactory plea deal for this exceptional client, who used the event to soul-search and commi
Case dismissed. A team approach helped build and prep a strong defense in the lead-up to trial. Shortly before trial was set to begin, the State dismissed the charges. North Star knows when not to be Minnesota Nice. In doing so, it earned the correct result for an innocent client.
Stay of imposition, with a misdemeanor conviction the result. Client – who faced gross misdemeanor charges and possibly an additional felony count if the case was pushed to trial – pursued a proactive, accountable strategy that resulted in the Judge commending him and stating, on the record, that he knows the client is a “stand-up guy”. Due to the smart, personalized legal strategy implemented, th
Zero charges levied against client due to incredible work by Mr. Adkins in a pre-charge capacity. After more than two months of investigation, negotiation and evidence-characterization, a metro prosecutor declined to file charges that carry near-automatic prison implications, and lifelong registration-as-sex-offender consequences. And the matter is now closed. Client can continue to pursue a brigh
Found not guilty on both counts at a jury trial. Midway through the case, the State amended the complaint to change the second count to one that was – to its hope – more likely to stick. Mr. Adkins fought like a bulldog, displaying incredible cross-examination skills that ultimately proved instrumental to the just result. The jury deliberated for a very short amount of time, further proving just h
In this matter, a client facing a mandatory 144 months in prison on allegations he had molested a minor child at a warming house received quite literally a new lease on life when the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed the trial judge’s order that he be tried a second time. After initially electing to proceed to trial with a personal friend who specialized in bankruptcy, and being denied the oppor
Expungement granted, in full. Client obtained a stay of adjudication to a gross misdemeanor 5th Degree criminal sexual contact charge in 2008. The county attorney, Department of Human Services (“DHS”), and Board of Nursing all opposed the expungement in writing and at oral arguments. Mr. Gempeler successfully explained the nuance of the appropriate burden of proof shifting to the state and the dat
