Date: June 2022
Case: Expungement
Attorney: Dani Peden
Result: Dani’s client was convicted of felony fifth degree possession of a controlled substance. This conviction hindered their ability to obtain employment in their field, volunteer, and possess a firearm. Through an expungement petition, petition for restoration, and hearing, Dani was able to convince the judge that her client’s case should be expunged and their firearms rights should be restored. Dani’s client no longer has a record that is viewable to the public and their rights to possess a firearm have been restored.
Date: June 2022
Case: Fleeing a Peace Officer
Attorney: Danielle C. Peden
Result: Dani’s client was facing a felony charge of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle in Anoka County. After gathering statements from the client’s doctor, friends, and family and other information relating to the incident, Dani negotiated with the prosecutor. The prosecutor ultimately agreed to drop the charge from a felony to a petty misdemeanor. As a result, the client avoided a criminal conviction, and their vehicle was returned.
Date: April 2022
Case: Sex Trafficking, Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, Financial Fraud
Attorney: Mike Brandt
Result: Mike’s client was charged with two felony charges: Engaging in Sex Trafficking with an Individual Under 18 Years Old and Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct. Mike challenged probable cause for the sex trafficking charge and convinced a judge to dismiss that charge. Mike then successfully brought a motion for a downward durational departure on the remaining count—Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct—and convinced the judge to sentence that charge as a Gross Misdemeanor. This avoided a felony conviction on that charge. Mike was also able to convince the prosecutor in another county to dismiss a different felony charge based upon the resolution of the first case.
Date: April 2022
Case: Third Degree Assault
Attorney: Nicole Kettwick
Result: Nicole’s client was charged with Felony Third Degree Assault Nicole conducted her own investigation and found multiple independent witnesses who corroborated her client’s version of events. On the eve of trial, the prosecutor agreed to dismiss the felony charge if Nicole’s client pled guilty to disorderly conduct with one year of unsupervised probation.
Date: March 2022
Case: Damage to Property
Attorney: Dani Peden
Result: Dani’s client was charged with first degree criminal damage to property—a felony charge–and faced five years in prison. Dani gathered information regarding factual issues to present to the prosecutor and disputed the alleged amount of damages. Dani was able to secure an agreement where the prosecutor amended the charge to misdemeanor fourth degree damage to property. This agreement allowed her client to avoid a felony conviction.
Date: March 2022
Case: Felony Controlled Substance Possession
Attorney: Mike Brandt
Result: Mike’s client was charged with 5 felony counts of Fifth Degree Controlled Substance offenses stemming from the execution of a search warrant. In preparation for the case., Mike challenged the legality of the search warrant and provided the prosecutor with information about his client’s involvement and background. Based on this information, Mike was able to secure a resolution were his client pled guilty to one of the charges and was placed on unsupervised probation for one year with a stay of adjudication. This means that once she is off probation, the charge will be dismissed and she will have the right to have her record expunged.
Date: March 2022
Case: CVH
Attorney: Mike Brandt
Result: Mike was retained to represent a client charged with felony criminal vehicular homicide in Aitkin County resulting from an accident involving a death. As the matter was charged, it called for a sentence of four years in prison. Mike was successful in negotiating a reduced charge of gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation. Mike’s client did not serve any jail time and kept a felony off his record.
Date: February 2022
Case: Preliminary Felony Assault
Attorney: Mike Brandt
Result: Mike was retained by a client who was under investigation for possible felony assault charges stemming from a brawl that occurred outside of a bar. Mike was proactive in having his investigator take statements from various witnesses which he provided to the police. Based upon the statements that Mike’s investigator provided as well as other information, no charges were filed.
Date: January 2022
Case: Felony Fleeing and Underage Drinking and Driving
Attorney: Nicole A. Kettwick
Result: Nicole’s client was charged with felony fleeing and underage drinking and driving after fleeing the police, weaving through traffic, and going across the median and the wrong way on the road to avoid the police. After working with her client and preparing materials for the prosecutor’s consideration, Nicole negotiated a dismissal of the underage drinking and driving charge, a return of the vehicle that had been seized after the incident, and eliminating the felony down to a gross misdemeanor. If Nicole’s client complies with unsupervised probation for just 2 years, he will not have to spend any time in jail.
Date: January 2022
Case: Felony Fleeing, DWI 3, Assault 5
Attorney: Dani Peden
Result: After Dani’s client got into a fight while drinking at a bar and fled the scene, he faced felony fleeing, gross misdemeanor DWI, and misdemeanor assault charges, and his vehicle was seized by the State. Dani was able to successfully argue for her client’s vehicle back from the State. Then, with her client’s proactive steps, she was able to negotiate a stay of adjudication on the felony fleeing charge, meaning the charge will be dismissed after her client successfully completes probation. This resolution allowed the client to avoid not only a felony conviction, but also jail time.
