Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorneys Summarize Obstruction of Justice Charges Under Minnesota Law
The act of obstructing justice takes many forms. Minnesota law defines "obstruction of justice" as the the interference with the work of law enforcement, including peace officers, prosecutors and federal authorities. There are a host of crimes in Minnesota that constitute obstruction of justice:
- Escape;
- Fleeing A Police Officer In A Motor Vehicle;
- Warning A Subject of Police Investigation;
- Witness Tampering; and
- Interference With A Dead Body
An individual who: (1) escapes while in custody pursuant to a lawful arrest, in custody on a charge or conviction of a crime, or while detained on an allegation or adjudication of a delinquent act; (2) transfers to another, who is in lawful custody on a charge or conviction of a crime, or introduces into an institution in which the latter is confined, anything usable in making such escape, with intent that it shall be so used; (3) having another in lawful custody on a charge or conviction of a crime, intentionally permits the other to escape; (4) escapes while in a security hospital; or (5) escapes while on pass status or provisional discharge is guilty of criminal escape.
An individual who, by means of a motor vehicle, flees or attempts to flee a peace officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty, and the perpetrator knows or should reasonably know the same to be a police officer, is guilty of fleeing a police officer.
An individual, having knowledge that a subpoena has been issued, and with intent to obstruct, impede, or prevent the investigation for which the subpoena was issued, gives notice or attempts to give notice of the issuance of the subpoena or the production of the documents to a person is guilty of the crime of warning of police investigation.
Someone engaged in harming or otherwise threatening a witness, hoping to influence his or her testimony, is guilty of witness tampering.
Someone who interferes with the body or scene of death with intent to mislead the coroner or conceal evidence is guilty of the crime of interfering with a dead body.
Have you been charged with obstruction of justice? The Minnesota criminal attorneys with the Brown Law Offices, P.A. can help. We've handled thousands of cases and will fight to protect your rights. Contact us for a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers. You can call (612) 789-2100 or submit your inquiry through our online consultation form.
