Understanding Felonies in Minnesota: Assault and Robbery Charges
Two individuals in Minnesota were recently arrested for allegedly committing felonies, including assault, aggravated robbery, and burglary. These serious charges highlight the severity of felonies in Minnesota and the legal consequences that may follow.
According to police, a woman reported being assaulted by the 27-year-old woman outside of a bar at around 1:30 a.m. on a Saturday. A couple of hours later, police were called to the assaulted woman’s home after she had reportedly been shot in the leg. The 38-year-old man allegedly shot the woman because she had reported the assault on the 27-year-old woman, who was apparently his cousin.
In addition to being accused of shooting the woman, the man is charged with stealing her cellular phone and wallet. Both the man and the woman who were arrested face four felony counts each. They were slated to go to court on the first Friday in January 2019.
When people are accused of committing felonies in Minnesota, they have the right to proceed to trial to fight these charges. Prosecutors must prove their charges beyond a reasonable doubt before any convictions can be handed down against them. If the prosecution’s evidence appears to be strong, the defendants may prefer to seek to negotiate plea deals with the prosecution, which might result in lighter charges and thus more lenient sentences than what would result from guilty verdicts at trial. In both scenarios, an attorney’s goal is to help the client to achieve the most personally favorable outcome possible.