It’s easy to think a past conviction belongs in the past, especially if years have passed and your life looks nothing like it once did. But when you’re facing a new charge in Minneapolis, what happened before can come roaring back.
However, that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. You need a St. Paul / Minneapolis, Minnesota criminal defense lawyer who won’t treat your history like a liability. At Keyser Law, P.A., we look beyond labels. We treat each case like its own story, and we’ll fight to keep your past from dictating your future.
When Your Record Casts a Long Shadow
Judges in Minnesota don’t pull sentences out of thin air. They rely on the state’s sentencing guidelines, which weigh your criminal history score against the severity of the current charge. If you’ve been convicted before, your score is likely higher, and that can push your sentence into a more serious range. Suddenly, probation becomes prison. A misdemeanor becomes a gross misdemeanor. A charge that might’ve been dismissed could be filed more aggressively.
A prior conviction can also influence prosecutors’ decisions on how to charge a case. You might face enhanced penalties for repeat offenses under state law. For example, certain assault, theft, or drug offenses carry stiffer consequences if you’ve been found guilty of similar conduct before.
A good criminal defense attorney won’t let that pattern go unchecked. They’ll look for ways to challenge how your history is being used, especially if that history involves old or out-of-state convictions that may not apply cleanly under Minnesota law.
Pattern Doesn’t Mean Predictable
Prior offenses don’t automatically define who you are. Prosecutors may act like they do, but the law still requires proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt for the new charge, not just a recycled narrative.
A seasoned Minneapolis, MN criminal defense lawyer from Keyser Law will challenge those assumptions. They’ll make the prosecution prove every detail of the new allegation without letting prior convictions become a shortcut for lazy thinking.
We’ll dig into the records that other firms overlook. Maybe a previous plea wasn’t entered properly. Maybe the conviction was for a lesser-included offense that doesn’t actually trigger an enhancement. We’ll ask those questions and raise those defenses. Your future deserves more than a rubber-stamped judgment.
Advocacy That Stands Up When It Counts
You need someone who will speak with the same conviction in court that you bring to your own life outside of it. Someone who won’t just talk tough in private but will press hard when it matters. At Keyser Law, your attorney will be focused on one thing: achieving the best possible outcome for you.
We don’t coast on reputations. Whether fighting for a reduced charge, seeking an expungement down the line, or presenting your record in a way that shows growth rather than guilt, your defense will come from a place of skill, perspective, and unshakable resolve.
Criminal History Doesn’t Define the Whole Picture
One record doesn’t have to become your identity in the eyes of the court. If prosecutors want to paint a picture of who you are, you deserve a lawyer who will pick up the brush and start painting back.
A Keyser Law, P.A. Minneapolis criminal defense lawyer understands what’s at stake – not just the legal outcome, but your future. We’re here to fight. Schedule your free consultation by contacting us online or calling (612) 338-5007.
