An Overview of Minnesota Felony Cases
Felonies are punishable by over one year to life imprisonment and a maximum fine indicated in the relevant Minnesota statute. Felony offenses are the most serious of all crimes and are pursued very aggressively by the State. Common felonies include the possesssion of sale of large quantities of narcotics, rape, assault, criminal sexual conduct, arson, murder and theft. In felony cases, the county attorney 's office is the prosecuting authority. In some cases, the Minnesota Attorney General's office will get handle things.
Because of the serious conduct involved with felony offenses, a number of court appearances will take place.
Upon arrest, defendants make their bail appearance. The bail amount is set and release conditions are imposed. If a defendant cannot post bail on their own, they can obtain a bond through a bondsman or remain incarcerated pending trial.
The next step involves the arraignment hearing. In an arraignment, the court will ensure that a defendant understands their rights and what they are charged with.
The next appearance is called an "omnibus" hearing and involves a challenge to probable cause and the evidence obtained by the state in violation of your constitutional rights.
Once the omnibus issues are addressed, the case is set for a pre-trial conference. At that hearing, negotiation takes place between the prosecutor and defense attorney. If a plea agreement is reached, it is read into the record. If a plea cannot be reached, a trial date will be set.
If convicted, the matter is set for sentencing. The state will conduct a pre-sentence investigation to examine the background of the defendant and make a recommendation concerning the sentence that should be imposed.
A conviction for felony often impacts a defendant's ability to obtain employment, secure student loans, serve in the military, vote and possess a firearm. It is far more difficult to expunge a felony conviction than a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor convication.
The felony defense lawyers with the Brown Law Offices, P.A. have years of experience in handling felony charges in Minnesota, including drug offenses, criminal sexual conduct, fraud, manslaughter and others. To contact our attorneys, call 763-323-6555 or submit a free consultation form.
