Minnesota Criminal Defense Blog | Keyser Law, P.A.

KEYSER LAW BLOG

Criminalizing Opioid Use? St. Louis County Has Another Idea

JUNE 29 2018

Most people are in agreement that opioid abuse is a major public health crisis in the US. However, how to address this epidemic is controversial. Traditionally, lawmakers have cracked down on penalties for drug trafficking and possession.

However, some lawmakers are realizing that these approaches are not effective for a number of reasons, and are shifting their perspective. Take, for example, St. Louis county in Northeastern Minnesota. They’ve recently taken a more humanitarian approach to the opioid epidemic,

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MN Domestic Violence Charges are Bad — Running from Police Is Worse

JUNE 21 2018

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Domestic Assault | Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a serious offense. The charges and penalties associated with it can be quite severe. Running away from charges, however, is never the answer.

Take, for example, the recent story of an Albert Lea man. After being accused of domestic assault, he attempted to escape police in a high-speed chase. Naturally they caught him, though, and he now faces not only felony-level domestic assault charges, but also charges for evading law enforcement and driving under the

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What Makes an Offense a Federal Crime Instead of a MN State Offense?

JUNE 15 2018

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Criminal Defense | Federal Crimes

There are over 200 different courts throughout the state of Minnesota. Courts deal with criminal trials, domestic disputes, civil cases – you name it. If you have been charged with a crime, knowing what court to go to and what you might be up against can be confusing.

Even if you are facing criminal charges, they can potentially be held in a Minnesota state court or a federal court in Minnesota depending on whether you are up against

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How Definitions of Bodily Injury Impact Minnesota Assault Charges

JUNE 7 2018

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Assault | Violent Crimes

If you are charged with assault in Minnesota, it’s helpful to understand how bodily harm is defined in various degrees. Below, we’re going to break down the law and penalties for you, then let you know how to fight back against your charges.

Understanding Bodily Harm in Minnesota Assault Laws

The Minnesota Statutes break assault into five different degrees, which define different levels of bodily harm, among other things.

Assault in the Fifth Degree

Minnesota Statute 609.224

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What You Need to Know about Minnesota’s Criminal Trespass Laws

JUNE 5 2018

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Criminal Trespass

In October 2016, four activists broke into an Enbridge Energy facility to shut down the flow of oil through one of the facility’s pipelines. The activists, who were from different states around the country, filmed themselves participating in the protest and were later arrested for trespassing. As the court case is moving to closure, their defense is growing stronger.

The activists are a part of a larger movement held by Climate Direct Action that aimed to stop the

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New DWI Bill Passes in Minnesota – What’s Going to Change?

MAY 23 2018

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: DWI/DUI

Recently, a bill passed the Minnesota Senate with a vote of 59 to 7 that expands DWI laws for snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. Here are the main areas which will be affected:

Operation of recreational vehicles after a DWI conviction will be prohibited.
The zero-tolerance law for drinking and driving under the age of 21 will be expanded to all vehicles, including recreational vehicles.
The driver’s license revocation will now extend to DWI offenses committed with recreational vehicles.

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Minnesota Credit Card Fraud Charges: How to Fight Back

MAY 14 2018

Published By: Chris Keyser

Category: Credit Card Fraud | White Collar Crimes

So many people are using credit cards for all their transactions that credit and debit card fraud is becoming more and more common. To combat the rise, law enforcement officials are getting more aggressive with how they go after suspected fraudsters and prosecute them.

If you are facing credit card fraud charges in Minnesota, it is important that you understand what the law says and what potential defenses you can use in this post.