Criminal Law

When you or a loved one find yourselves facing criminal charges, it can feel like all of the cards are stacked against you. The justice system is incredibly complex and antagonistic to those that are being charged with a crime, and aside from minor traffic violations, it is absolutely necessary to get reliable representation to help you fight the charges. With over 20 years of experience defending clients from all walks of life that have found themselves on the short end of the justice department’s stick, and receiving numerous “not guilty” and case dismissals, you can count on Karalus Law to fight diligently for the best possible verdict. Even if you are completely innocent of the charges against you, that doesn’t mean that the prosecution won’t do everything in their power to win the case.

On this page, we’d like to provide you with some information to help you gain a better understanding of criminal law, the process, as well as steps that you need to take in order to protect your future. If you are currently facing serious charges, don’t hesitate to reach out to Brian Karalus as soon as possible to get the most dedicated criminal defense attorney on your side.

In order to live in a civilized society, laws are a necessity to deter crime. What constitutes a crime in the United States is determined by the state and the federal government, and the punishments are decided based on the severity of the crime. Less serious crimes are known as misdemeanors and carry punishments up to a maximum of one year in county jail as well as fines and possible educational classes. Misdemeanors include petty theft, public intoxication, reckless driving, vandalism, and more.

Felonies are on another level. Defined as a serious crime, often involving violence, the penalty for a felony conviction is usually imprisonment for more than one year and hefty fines. Felony crimes include but are not limited to:

Murder
Sexual Assault
Drug Offenses
Theft
Arson
Fleeing Police

As well as white-collar crimes such as forgery and fraud. When one is charged with a felony, it is not a matter to take lightly. Having a felony on your record can change your life entirely in a very detrimental way. As a felon the fines that you will have to pay will severely affect your finances, your time will be consumed by the justice department, and it will become nearly impossible to find a respectable job or even a nice place to live. Not to mention, the system wants to keep a hold of you and has been set up in a way that makes the possibility of finding yourself in trouble with the law again. Recidivism rates in the United States are astronomical.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics performed a study tracking 401,288 state prisoners following their release from incarceration. Around 68% of these prisoners were arrested within three years of their release, 79% within six years, and 83% within nine years. It seems like our system is focused more on keeping people in it than providing them with rehabilitation.

This is why when you find yourself in trouble with the law, it is so important to reach out to a criminal defense lawyer immediately. It’s in order to protect your future.

The criminal process almost always begins with a stop or an arrest. It is important for us to differentiate these two since they are not the same. A stop is when an officer detains you in order to question you without taking you to a separate location. Keep in mind that you are not under arrest during this time, and that you are not legally obligated to answer any of their questions. Depending on the situation, they may also ask to search your vehicle. In order for them to be allowed to do this, they need to have probable cause. You have the right to say that you do not consent to their search. They may still do it anyway, but if it is later found that they did not have probable cause, you will be happy that you did not consent and the case might be dropped then and there.

The officer is able to arrest you if they have reasonable suspicion to believe that you have committed a crime, or they actually caught you in the act. Following your arrest, it is the officer’s duty to read you your constitutional rights, known as your Miranda Rights, such as your right to remain silent and the right to seek the advice of a criminal defense attorney. During this moment, they may try to sway you into talking in order to “help yourself out in the situation,” but this is just a ploy they use to get more evidence to use against you. You do not want to tell the officers anything until you have spoken to a lawyer.

After you have been read your rights, they will arrest you, charge you with a crime, and bring you in to get booked. You will be thoroughly searched, fingerprinted, your name will be put into the official database, as well as your charge, and your personal belongings will be removed. Depending on the severity of your charge and the circumstances, it is possible that you will be released and be given a date to appear in court. You may also be held in custody until your bail is paid.

In extreme situations, you will be held until your hearing. If this is the case for you, you will be asked to enter a plea. Your options are “guilty”, “not guilty”, or “no contest”. This is another time where you should not make a rash decision without first speaking with your criminal defense lawyer. If you have pleaded guilty or no contest, they will forego a trial and your sentencing will be immediately or at a later date. If you claim “not guilty”, then your case will go to trial. In this situation, you need to have an experienced lawyer to fight your case. Many lawyers are intimidated by trials and avoid taking those cases. Not Brian Karalus, he thrives on using his vast knowledge of criminal law to stand up for the rights and freedom of his clients in court.

When you have been charged with a serious crime, there is no question whether you should hire the services of a defense attorney or not. You do not want to take your case on by yourself, no matter how confident you are regarding your innocence. You also don’t want to have the state assign an attorney for you. Public defenders see countless cases and are never fully committed to a specific client. Just trying to handle the case and move on to the next one. The following are the top reasons why you should contact Karalus Law for legal representation in Minnesota.

What a Criminal Lawyer Does

The United States Constitution states that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. In order to avoid a guilty verdict, a criminal lawyer will use their knowledge and experience to fight the charges. By gathering all available evidence including police reports, witness testimony, documentation, and much more, your attorney will build a case based on this evidence and the facts at hand in order to give you the best chance at a positive result. Brian will do everything in his power to fight for your rights so you can rest easy knowing that your case is in capable hands.

Murder

It goes without saying that murder is the most serious charge that you can be facing, therefore you need a lawyer on your side. Minnesota does not allow for the death penalty, but if you do not have a good strategy and don’t present a good case, then you’re going to be spending the rest of your life behind bars.

Manslaughter

You may have thought that murder and manslaughter were the same thing, but what separates the two all boils down to intent. With manslaughter, the accused likely had no intention to commit the crime but was acting recklessly with the knowledge that there was a risk that someone could be fatally injured.

Physical Assault

There are five degrees of physical assault, each determined by the severity of the situation and with varying punishments. If facing first-degree physical assault, one is looking at up to $30,000 of fines and a maximum of twenty years in prison.

Theft

In the state of Minnesota, there are many things that can constitute someone being charged with theft. Sometimes this can become complicated and will require the expertise of a trustworthy criminal defense lawyer to break down the evidence against the accused.

Arson

Like other crimes, arson has five degrees and are determined by the circumstances of the crime. This includes whether the fire was started in a dwelling, explosives were used, as well as intent.

And More

Protecting Your Future

The fact of the matter is, no matter the severity of the crime, being convicted will change your life, and not for the better. Even if you know of your innocence, that does not mean that you are off the hook and that hiring a lawyer is unnecessary. If you or someone that you are close to has been accused of a serious crime, then you want to take action immediately so that a strategy is built to defend you. Contact Karalus Law today to get the representation that you or your loved one deserve.

Criminal Law

Schedule A Consultation Today

WHAT IS

THE CRIMINAL

TOP REASONS

The Law is Complex

Access to Witnesses and Experts

Correct Documentation and Procedures

Know the Best Strategy

Negotiating Skills

Free Consultation

What a Criminal Lawyer Does

CRIMES THAT

Murder

Manslaughter

Physical Assault

Theft

Arson

And More

Protecting Your Future

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Schedule A Consultation Today

WHAT IS

THE CRIMINAL

TOP REASONS

The Law is Complex

Access to Witnesses and Experts

Correct Documentation and Procedures

Know the Best Strategy

Negotiating Skills

Free Consultation

What a Criminal Lawyer Does

CRIMES THAT

And More

Protecting Your Future

Recent Posts

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