•Names have been changed to protect privacy. When the phone call came, Pat* was on a trip out East with his son. A police officer had stopped by his home and left a message to call back. Soon after, he was served. A no-contact order. A criminal complaint – Criminal Sexual Conduct. Pages of allegations […]

“My advice? Find someone who has the life you want and stop talking—start listening.” Ian remembers the exact date his old life ended: September 29, 2023. Married with three young kids, the CEO of a successful company, a volunteer firefighter, and a church council member—he had perfected the art of switching personas, one polished role […]

When you are facing criminal charges, you want the strongest defense possible. At Ryan Pacyga Criminal Defense, clients do not just get one attorney. They get two criminal defense attorneys. Ryan and Marie Pacyga bring their combined strengths and perspectives to every case, giving clients an edge that most law firms cannot offer. Two Criminal […]

Carrie* remembers the exact sound of the recording. “You have a call from the county jail…” In the beat before her son’s voice came through, a thousand fears crowded in—car wrecks, a fight, the kinds of emergencies parents brace for but hope never arrive. What followed was worse than anything she had imagined: her 21-year-old […]

When Hank, a Marine Corps veteran, found himself charged with crimes that could have sent him to prison for decades, his world collapsed. Struggling with PTSD, Hank had an episode that left him facing two counts of attempted murder and firing a weapon into a crowd. He spent a year and a half in jail […]

When Larry first met Marie Pacyga, he was facing some of the hardest seasons of his life. Addiction, health struggles, and new criminal charges left him feeling trapped in a system he had been tangled in for nearly 20 years. He was scared, overwhelmed, and unsure if there was any way forward. That’s when Marie […]

How One Man Found His Strength with Ryan Pacyga by His Side Right before Christmas, Christian* showed up to his government job as usual. Within hours, he was placed on administrative leave, had his personal possessions confiscated. He had no warning, no explanation, and no idea that his life was about to be flipped upside […]

When David first learned he was being charged with a crime, he was overwhelmed. So, like many others, he turned to Ryan Pacyga. “I was in a panic,” he recalls. “I’d never been through anything like this. It felt like my world was spinning.” Like many people, David turned to the internet in search of […]

When most people hear “first-degree murder,” they know it’s serious—but what exactly does it mean, especially in Minnesota? Hi, I’m Ryan Pacyga, criminal defense attorney, and I recently represented a client facing not one, but two counts of first-degree murder. It was the most serious case I’ve ever tried, and I’m grateful to share that […]

In 2023, Minnesota legalized recreational marijuana, joining a growing number of states reforming cannabis-related laws. But while legalization has opened the door to personal use and limited home cultivation, new regulations around marijuana possession, growth, and distribution are still being tested in real time—and so are the people navigating them. At Ryan Pacyga Criminal Defense, […]

Background A young man found himself in the midst of a federal conspiracy case, facing charges that carried a mandatory 10-year prison sentence. He was indicted in U.S. District Court for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including LSD, methamphetamine, and marijuana. The federal investigation uncovered evidence of large-scale drug transactions, the use of social media […]

A complex healthcare fraud scheme involving millions of dollars put a Texas-based doctor under federal investigation.

As a criminal defense attorney, I often encounter cases where the evidence appears strong on the surface, only to reveal hidden issues upon closer scrutiny.

In 2023, Ryan Pacyga, an experienced Minnesota criminal defense attorney, took on the case of W.C., a military veteran charged with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon.

Understanding DWI with Unique Circumstances In this pivotal case, a wife found herself in a dangerous situation after an argument with her husband turned violent while they were camping in a remote area. After walking back from a nearby tavern, the husband assaulted her, taking her phone and leaving her with no means of communication […]

Understanding DWI Test Refusal in Minnesota” (assuming you’re focusing on Minnesota law) In 2023, Marie Pacyga, a skilled Minnesota DWI defense attorney, represented K.M., who was initially charged with third-degree DWI test refusal. The case was further complicated by the fact that the prosecution waited nearly the entire statute of limitations period before filing charges, […]

Understanding Strangulation and its Impact in Assault Cases S.P. was charged with strangulation and assault in Dakota County. Although the charges of strangulation and assault were serious, defense attorney Ryan Pacyga successfully negotiated the dismissal of all charges related to the alleged victim. Despite the dismissal, the State filed a motion seeking restitution of approximately […]

Background In 2014, M.G. was charged with Malicious Punishment of a Child under Minnesota Statute 609.377, following allegations that surfaced after he became the mother’s new boyfriend. The accusations placed M.G. in a difficult position, as child abuse charges carry severe legal and personal consequences. M.G. maintained his innocence, asserting that the allegations were false […]

In 2014, the St. Paul Police Department conducted a reverse sting operation targeting individuals seeking illicit services. As part of the sting, a female undercover officer posed as a prostitute, placing a fake ad on the internet for an illicit massage.

J.A. faced a probation violation in Dakota County after being charged with a new DWI and drug offense while on probation for a prior DWI conviction. Admitting to the violation, J.A. was at risk of significant penalties, including a 30-day jail sentence proposed by both the probation agent and the prosecutor.

In 2016, T.H., a licensed professional, was charged with making harassing phone calls after a personal friendship went sour. The situation escalated when the other party threatened to contact T.H.’s spouse, prompting T.H. to leave several harassing voicemails.

In 2023, Ryan Pacyga, a Minnesota criminal defense attorney, successfully argued a pivotal case before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. His client, J.S., had been convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). However, Ryan identified a critical issue in the case that warranted a challenge at the appellate level.

In 2022, a head-on collision in Anoka County tragically resulted in a fatal crash, and the client of Minnesota criminal defense attorney Marie Pacyga was charged with causing the accident.

In 2023, C.M. faced DWI charges in Hennepin County after officers claimed his vehicle smelled like marijuana, leading to a field sobriety test and a subsequent DWI arrest.