At Neuville Law Office, the goal on every criminal case is the same: seek to get the criminal charges dismissed, avoid a permanent criminal record, and avoid serving jail time.\u00a0 The facts, circumstances and defense strategies of each individual case, however, are unique.<\/p>\n
Different prosecutors from St. Cloud to Minneapolis to Bloomington may approach criminal charges differently, some seeking more harsh or lenient plea bargains. Likewise, different judges in Stearns County, Dakota County or Hennepin County, for example, may have slightly different approaches when imposing fines and\/or jail time, which may also impact the strategy of defending a criminal case.<\/p>\n
Under Minnesota law, whoever intentionally obstructs, resists, or interferes with a police officer, firefighter, or a member of an ambulance service personnel crew, while engaged in the performance of official duties, may be charged with obstructing legal process.\u00a0 In Minnesota, obstructing legal process can be charged as a felony, gross misdemeanor, or misdemeanor.<\/p>\n
Felony charges may be filed if the prosecutor believes the defendant knew or had reason to know that their act created a risk of, or caused, death, substantial bodily harm, or serious property damage.\u00a0 Penalties include imprisonment for not more than five years, a $10,000 fine, or both.<\/p>\n
Felony obstructing legal process charges are pursued very aggressively by police and prosecutors and if you or someone you know have been charged with felony obstructing legal process there is a real possibility the prosecutor may seek anywhere from 30-180 days in jail, potentially much more depending on the circumstances of the case and criminal history of the person charged.<\/p>\n
Any act accompanied by force or violence or the threat thereof, may be charged as gross misdemeanor obstructing legal process.\u00a0 Penalties for a gross misdemeanor include imprisonment up to one year, a fine of $3,000, or both.<\/p>\n
Gross misdemeanor charges are also pursued aggressively by police and prosecutors in Minnesota.\u00a0 There may be less need for significant incarceration for someone convicted of gross misdemeanor obstruction legal process, but many aggressive prosecutors may seek some jail time or community service as part of any plea bargain.<\/p>\n
Any defendant unlawfully obstructing a police officer, firefighter, or a member of an ambulance service personnel crew from performing lawful duties, without use of force, may be charged with a misdemeanor, which include penalties of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.<\/p>\n
Someone convicted of misdemeanor obstructing legal process is not likely to serve jail time, unless the circumstances of the case are egregious or other factors, such as prior convictions for similar conduct, lead the prosecutor to seek jail and\/or community service.<\/p>\n
Of course, in criminal court you always have the right to an attorney and the right to present a meaningful defense, including a jury trial.\u00a0 In a criminal trial, every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendants are never required to plead guilty, or take any plea bargain in criminal court. Often times in criminal court however, cases are resolved with a plea bargain, particularly if the prosecuting attorney makes a favorable offer.<\/p>\n
When someone is charged with Obstructing Legal Process, the prosecutor is required to prove criminal intent relating to a physical obstruction of a peace officer\u2019s official duties.\u00a0 Mere presence at a crime scene or speech directed at an officer, even if offensive, may not rise to the level of criminal Obstructing Legal Process. Minnesota courts have set the standard for \u201cfighting words\u201d or speech that may rise to the functional level of physically obstructing with a peace office carrying out lawful duties, which could result in charges.<\/p>\n
If you or someone you know is charged with Obstructing Legal Process, Call Luke Neuville for a free and confidential consultation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":427,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n