What Crimes Can Get You on the Sex Offender List in Minnesota?
The state of Minnesota, unlike other jurisdictions throughout the country, does not classify sex crimes into categories like rape or sexual assault. Instead, the Minnesota statute categorizes criminal acts of a sexual nature as ‘criminal sexual conduct’ and classifies this type of conduct into different degrees, based upon the seriousness of the crime. If you are ultimately convicted of a sexually-related crime, you may be required to register as a sex offender. As a result, your name will appear on the state’s sex offender registry, perhaps for the remainder of your life.
Being convicted of criminal sexual conduct, and/or having your name on the state’s sex offender registry, can have serious legal and personal consequences. In addition to the potential legal penalties of incarceration and high monetary fines, having your name on the state’s sex offender registry can make it very difficult to get a job (or keep your current job), further your education, and find a place to live.
The best way to avoid Minnesota’s sex offender list is to avoid a sex crime conviction. You can do so by formulating and asserting a strong legal defense at trial. The experienced Minnesota sex crime defense attorneys at Gerald Miller, P.A. will investigate the circumstances surrounding your case, advocate in your defense, and help you achieve a “not guilty” verdict. Please call us today to find out more about how we may be able to assist you with your criminal case.
Minnesota Crimes that Require Sex Offender List Registration
Although not every sex crime conviction in the state of Minnesota requires the convicted to register as a sex offender, many do. Mandatory sex offender list registration comes with all of the following criminal convictions:
● Soliciting a minor
● Indecent exposure that occurs at the felony level
● Murder that occurs while the individual commits an act of criminal sexual conduct
● Felony-level criminal sexual conduct offenses (including first, second, third, and fourth-degree offenses)
● Kidnapping offenses
● Possessing or distributing child pornography
● False imprisonment that involves a minor
It is important to keep in mind that in order to convict you of criminal sexual conduct in any degree – or any crime, for that matter – the state prosecutor must satisfy a very high legal burden. Specifically, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed and that you were the individual who committed it.
Successfully proving a charge beyond a reasonable doubt has a very high threshold the requires the prosecution to meet the burden of proof upon ordinary reason and ordinary common sense. If the prosecution is unable to satisfy the legal burden, your lawyer can raise that failure as a defense to your criminal charge. In the event that a judge or jury does not convict you of the underlying criminal charge(s), you will not be required to register as a sex offender.
Minnesota Sex Offender Registration Requirements
In order to be compliant with the state’s sex offender registration requirements, offenders will need to provide certain information that includes primary and secondary Minnesota addresses (including leased, owned, and rented properties), addresses for all employers, information regarding motor vehicles the offender regularly drives and/or owns (including the make, model, year, color, and license plate numbers), fingerprint card, certain signed consent forms, and a recent photograph.
Speak with a Minnesota Sex Crimes Attorney about Your Criminal Charge Today
Being charged with a sex crime in the state of Minnesota is serious. If you are ultimately convicted of the criminal charge and are required to register as a sex offender, you will face numerous personal and professional consequences that will last the remainder of your life. It is absolutely essential to retain experienced legal counsel in a timely manner. The skilled legal team at Gerald Miller, P.A. will do everything possible to help you avoid mandatory sex offender registration and will vigorously defend your case.
For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a knowledgeable Minnesota sex crimes defense attorney, please give us a call at 612-440-4610 or contact us online to learn more about how we can assist you with your legal defense.
