Date: January 2022
Case: Hit and Run
Attorney: Dani Peden
Result: Dani’s client crashed into another driver’s bumper on a rainy night, causing damages to both vehicles, and then fled the scene. Facing two misdemeanor charges of careless driving and hit and run, Dani negotiated with the prosecutor on her client’s case. Dani was able to get the prosecutor to agree to a resolution where her client pled guilty to a petty misdemeanor careless driving charge, a dismissal of the hit and run charge, and no probation for her client.
Date: October 2021
Case: Expungement
Attorney: Dani Peden
Result: Dani’s client was previously convicted of possessing a small amount of marijuana in a motor vehicle and drug paraphernalia in Scott County approximately three years ago. Although her client was never on formal probation for the incident, the drug convictions, a petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor, were still on their record, and they worried about their job security as well as the negative stigma attached to a drug offense. Dani filed a petition and argued on behalf of her client to get these records sealed. Ultimately, the Court granted the expungement for her client, which means the drug convictions are no longer viewable on her client’s criminal record or at any other agency with records of the incident.
Date: August 2021
Case: Failure to Stop for Stop Sign and Instruction Permit Violation
Attorney: Dani Peden
Result: Dani’s client was pulled over for not stopping at a stop sign and was found to not have a proper license, but an instruction permit, to drive. Her client faced petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor charges. Through negotiations with the prosecutor, Dani was able to secure a continuance for dismissal for her client on both charges. This means that after one year without a similar offense, her client will have both charges dismissed.
Date: August 2021
Case: 5th Degree Controlled Substance
Attorney: Mike Brandt
Result: Mike Brandt’s client was charged with a felony 5th Degree drug charge based upon a quantity of marijuana that was found in his client’s vehicle during a traffic stop. After reviewing the evidence, Mike filed a motion to dismiss the charges based upon illegal conduct by the police. Based upon this motion, the prosecutor agreed to amend the charge to one of a petty misdemeanor possession of a small amount of marijuana. Mike’s client paid a $50 fine and was not subject to probation or any other conditions.
Date: July 2021
Case: Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Attorney: Nicole A. Kettwick
Result: Nicole’s client was charged with Petty Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after items were found in the car she was riding as a passenger in. Nicole requested a hearing to fight this charge. Nicole negotiated with the prosecutor and he agreed to a disposition called a continuance for dismissal. They entered this agreement on the record to the Court at Nicole’s client’s arraignment hearing and the Court accepted it. If Nicole’s client complies with the conditions of the agreement, after 1 year the charges will be automatically dismissed. Nicole accomplished her client’s goals of keeping a conviction of a drug-related offense off her record and avoiding the admission of any wrongdoing.
Date: January 2021
Case: Expungement
Attorney: Dani Peden
Result: Dani’s client was originally charged with Petty Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her client received a continuance for dismissal for the charges and became eligible for an expungement after successfully completing probation. Once her client was eligible for expungement, Dani successfully petitioned the Court to have her client’s charges expunged. This possession of drug paraphernalia charge is no longer publicly viewable on her client’s criminal record or at any other agency with records of the incident.
Date: November 2020
Case: Possess/Sale Small Amount of Marijuana
Attorney: Nicole A. Kettwick
Result: Nicole’s client was charged with a petty misdemeanor possession/sale of a small amount of marijuana after the friends he was with admitted to smoking a marijuana cigarette. Nicole’s client lost his job due to the incident. However, as Nicole’s client was the only person out of his friends who was cooperative with the police, Nicole was able to convince the prosecutor to dismiss the case in the interests of justice. Nicole’s client now maintains a clean record, is immediately eligible for expungement, and has hope of returning to this job.
Date: November 2020
Case: Speeding
Attorney: Michael J. Brandt
Result: Mike’s client was charged with a misdemeanor for driving 100mph in a 65mph zone in Hennepin County. The prosecuting attorney insisted that Mike’s client be convicted of a misdemeanor and to be placed on probation. Mike scheduled the case for trial, but on the day of trial the prosecutor finally agreed to amend the charge to a petty misdemeanor and reduce the speed to 89mph in a 65mph zone. Because of this negotiation, Mike’s client was only required to pay a fine and was not subject to probation.
Date: May 2020
Case: Misdemeanor Failure to Stop for Traffic Control Signal
Attorney: Nicole Kettwick
Result: Nicole’s client was charged with a misdemeanor Failure to Stop for Traffic Control Signal in Anoka County after the police investigated the scene of an accident. Nicole negotiated with the prosecutor and the prosecutor agreed to reduce the charges to a Petty Misdemeanor, this allowed Nicole’s client to avoid a criminal conviction.
Date: February 2020
Case: Trespass
Attorney: Nicole Kettwick
Result: Nicole Kettwick’s client was charged with Trespass after a hotel in Washington County called the police when he refused to leave. As part of Nicole’s negotiation, her client received a Petty Misdemeanor Trespass. This resolution allows Nicole’s client to avoid a criminal conviction on his record and being placed on probation.
