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952.945.7824Being accused of a sex crime can be devastating. Even if you are never convicted, you can lose your job, your friends, and your family. It can ruin your relationships. Being convicted of a sex crime is even worse. After you complete your sentence, you may be required to register as a sex offender, which can make it difficult to find a job or a place to live.
If you have been accused of any sex-related crime in the Minneapolis- St. Paul area or elsewhere in Minnesota, it is important to speak to a skilled Woodbury Sex Crimes Lawyer who understands how to fight these charges effectively. I am a criminal defense lawyer Justin Schiks. I have defended countless clients charged with all types of sex crimes, including:
Anyone can be falsely accused of a sex crime, including teachers, coaches, youth workers, ministers, and juveniles. Sadly, many alleged sex crimes are fabrications presented as truth by individuals in an attempt to manipulate or victimize another. Some circumstances may be a case of “he said, she said,” and others may involve an accuser whose memory of events cannot be accepted as fact.
Sex crimes often come down to the quality of the police work and the strength of the evidence against you. As an experienced trial lawyer, I am skilled in finding weaknesses in both parts of the prosecution’s case.
I will work to achieve a positive outcome. In some instances, this may mean negotiating to get the charges against you reduced or the case dismissed. In other cases, I may recommend that we take your case before a jury. In all instances, I will consult with you about strategy and keep you informed of developments in your case.
Clients accused of sexual offenses have told me they appreciated that I treated them with respect. I don’t judge my clients. I treat them with courtesy and dignity, no matter what allegations have been made against them.
If you have been charged with any type of sex crime, please contact me by email or call 651-504-2564. I understand what you are going through, and I know how to help.
If you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony crime, you will need a good criminal defense lawyer to help with your case. To qualify as a quality legal representative, an attorney should be well-versed in state and local laws. In this case, it means having a thorough understanding of Minnesota and Woodbury laws and statutes. A good criminal lawyer will take the time to listen to your side of the story. They will also approach a case based on the evidence and without making any judgments based on a defendant’s perceived character. Finally, a good attorney will allow the defendant to have control of how the case proceeds. This means that they get to decide whether to take a plea deal, testify at trial or make other important decisions. While an attorney may not agree with those decisions and will advise as such, the best ones respect whatever choices a client makes.
Read More: What Does A Criminal Defense Lawyer Do?
After someone has been arrested, there are various procedures that follow. First, their case will be given to the proper prosecutor’s office where a decision of what charges -if any- will be filed. A prosecutor isn’t bound by the initial charge decision, they may change it later if more evidence is obtained. Please note that they also have the right to a speedy trial. In Minnesota, this means that they have to be tried within 120 days of pleading not guilty or within 60 days of demanding a trial. After that, is their arraignment. During the arraignment, the judge will read the defendant’s charges, ask the defendant if they have an attorney or needs the assistance of a court-appointed attorney, ask the defendant how they plead to the charges, decides whether to alter the bail amount or to release the defendant on their own recognizance and finally announce the dates of future proceedings in the case. They may be able to get out of jail after their arrest and before the trial by posting bail. Posting bail is the process of giving the court money to ensure that they’ll make an appearance at future dates. If they do, the court refunds the money. If they don’t, the court will keep it and be able to issue a warrant for your arrest.
Read More: What Happens When You Get Arrested?
Being arrested is serious, and if the police want to speak with you after you have been arrested it is important that you understand your rights. You have certain constitutional rights that protect you when you are arrested by the police. Among these rights are: (1) the right to remain silent, and (2) the right to speak with an attorney. If you choose to give up these rights, anything you say could potentially be used against you in legal proceedings. In contrast, anything that you say to a lawyer is protected by the attorney-client privilege and cannot be discovered by law enforcement or used against you. When you are arrested, it is impossible to know what evidence law enforcement currently has or what evidence they might develop in your case. It is permissible for law enforcement to lie to you during questioning and use other interrogation methods to influence your statements. In addition, you will likely be under emotional stress due to the arrest. If you are arrested, you should assert your constitutional rights. Remain silent. Do not talk to the police. Request to speak with an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can protect you and give you the advice you need.
Read More: Do I Have To Answer Police Questions?
After being charged with a crime you will face an arraignment, which is also known as the first appearance. This first stage of the criminal process is to ensure that your constitutional rights are met. The charges and consequences you are facing are explained in detail. This process was initially put in place for individuals with literacy issues, comprehension, and language barriers. Prosecutors are usually known to encourage most defendants to plead guilty for less jail time or in accordance with the statistics of like crimes. You must keep in mind that the prosecution works on behalf of Minnesota state and not the defendant. Guilty pleas close their cases automatically. The defendant is the one that either benefits or suffers from their plea. It is imperative that you make your plea in accordance with the charges and evidence presented against you. Obtaining legal representation may be the best way to ensure your due process. During this first appearance, a public defender will be assigned to you if you cannot afford to retain private legal services.
Read More: What Does An Arraignment Mean?
A pretrial conference is a meeting that is held usually about 30 days before the trial between the plaintiff, judge, prosecutor, and defense counsel. This meeting is the perfect platform to ensure that all evidence, charges, witnesses, and motions are legitimate. On some occasions, there is sufficient evidence presented to drop the case or acquire a conviction. Plea bargaining may come into play at this point based on what is discussed. Other parties may also be invited to this preliminary meeting as well at the discretion of the judge. Deadlines are set in place for the discovery process, serving or filing motions, plea bargaining, and trial proceedings. There are times when a judge may schedule another pretrial conference before determining whether a trial is necessary. Avoiding having to go to trial may or may not be in your best interest. You want to make sure that your defense team diligently seeks ways to decrease criminal punishment or discredits the evidence brought against you altogether. The decision to go to court should be one based on facts and in accordance with Minnesota law.
Read More: What Is A Pretrial Conference In A Criminal Case?
There is a common misconception that if the complaining party in a criminal case does not want to cooperate with the prosecution or does not want to continue to press charges then the case will be dismissed. In reality, once someone complains to law enforcement, they have no ability to control how the case will proceed through the criminal justice system. Ultimately, it will be up to the County Attorney or City Prosecutor to determine whether a criminal case will proceed. Some complaining parties believe they can stop a prosecution from going forward by refusing to testify. What these people do not understand is that the County Attorneys and City Prosecutors have the ability to compel witness testimony through the subpoena process. If a witness disobeys a subpoena and refuses to testify, they can face serious consequences including fines and jail time. Rather than try to manipulate the outcome of a criminal case by refusing to cooperate or trying to drop charges, one should seek the advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney. By working within the system through an experienced attorney, you will have a greater chance of achieving your goal and having the charges dismissed.
Read more: Can You Drop Charges Against Someone Before Court?
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Justin M. Schiks who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
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