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Highly Recognized Sex Crime Lawyers in Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Four Minneapolis Sex Crimes Attorneys, One Powerful Law Firm

Attorney Kyle Dreger

Kyle Dreger

Attorney Gerald Miller

Gerald Miller

How Can Our Sex Crimes Attorneys in Minneapolis Help You?

Criminal Sexual Conduct

Possession of Pornography

Online Sex Crimes

Sex Offender Registration

Very few offenses have as severe direct and collateral consequences as sex crimes. A conviction could mean many years in prison. A conviction could also mean long-term registration as a sex offender and a number of other issues. In fact, the collateral consequences are often worse than the direct consequences.

At Gerald Miller, P.A., our team of legal and investigative professionals starts work quickly to prepare your defense. Sex crimes prosecutions are long chains with many links. If one link is weak, that’s enough for a powerful lawyer to break the chain.

Criminal Sexual Conduct Defense

It is important to remember that sex crimes are not assault. When a sex crime is involved, you should hire a Minneapolis Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer rather than an Assault Lawyers In Minneapolis.

Essentially, CSC is an unconsented sexual act. “Consent” is a voluntary, affirmative act. Depending on the facts of the case, Hennepin County prosecutors can bring one of the following charges:

  • Fifth Degree CSC is lewd conduct with no sexual penetration,
  • Fourth Degree CSC is a sex act which involves an underage or other vulnerable victim,
  • Third Degree CSC is sexual penetration with some aggravating facts,
  • Second Degree CSC is extreme sexual violence which does not involve penetration, and
  • First Degree CSC is the most serious charge.

Incidentally, with regard to statutory rape, Minnesota does not have a “Romeo and Juliet” exception. If two 15-year-olds have consensual sex, they could both be prosecuted for CSC.

Consent, or lack thereof, is the central issue in many of these cases. Physical evidence establishes violence, but only circumstantial evidence establishes lack of consent. And, this evidence is vulnerable. For example, consent to prior acts does not establish consent to the charged offense, but it might be enough to create reasonable doubt.

Uncertain identification is another common defense. Frequently, the area was dark and the alleged victim only caught a glimpse of the assailant.

Possession of Pornography

Experience has taught our Minneapolis Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers that Child pornography is the most common kind of illegal pornography. The image at issue could be a random internet photograph or something from an underground publication.

All possession cases, such as drug and pornography possession matters, usually involve search and seizure issues. These acts are illegal unless officers had a valid search warrant or a narrow search warrant exception applied.

Valid warrants are specific as to time, place, and items to be seized. Valid warrants also require solid affidavits. Common warrant exceptions include consent searches and plain view seizures.

Online Sex Crimes Defense

Most internet sex crimes are a combination of CSC offenses and pornography infractions. It is not against the law to talk to an underage person or even arrange a meeting. However, it is unlawful to take additional steps toward meeting. Our Minneapolis Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers know that Minnesota courts define this part of the offense very broadly. It could even include leaving the house to meet the person.

In terms of pornography, possession is not the only possible problem. It is also illegal to ask an underage person for an explicit photograph. Such conduct constitutes the production of illegal pornography.

The entrapment defense sometimes applies in these cases. Police officers can pose as underage girls and perhaps even lie about their identities. But, they cannot entice people to commit crimes.

Sex Offender Registration

All sex offenders, including misdemeanor indecent exposure offenders, must register for a minimum of ten years. In Minnesota, there are three different levels of sex offender registration.

Level I low-risk offenders must register, but only law enforcement officers and a few other individuals can access the information. The information for Level II medium-risk offenders is publicly available. At-risk organizations, such as nearby daycares, receive a special notification. Level III high-risk public information release usually involves a town hall meeting or another very public forum.

Minneapolis Sex Crimes Defense Attorneys have two chances to reduce an offender’s risk level. A review board makes an initial determination, and a judge can reduce the risk level at a subsequent modification hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Any infraction with any sexual overtones, from the most innocent indecent exposure incident to the most violent sexual assault, is a sex crime in Minnesota. Furthermore, the registration requirement depends on the risk of re-offense as opposed to the facts of the case. So, an indecent exposure conviction could mean Level III registration.
Sexting is not a crime, but it is evidence of a crime. If a defendant sexted with an underage person and then took steps to meet that person, a jury can put two and two together.
Although it is usually a misdemeanor, indecent exposure is always a sex crime. “Gross lewdness or lascivious behavior, or any public indecency” is an ordinary misdemeanor. If such conduct occurred in the presence of a minor under 16, like in a park, or the defendant had a prior conviction, the offense is a gross misdemeanor. Indecent exposure is a felony if the defendant used force to compel someone to watch.
No, although such behavior could be considered disorderly conduct (any “offensive, obscene, abusive, boisterous, or noisy” behavior). Public urination could be indecent exposure depending on if there are people around, and depending on where it is happening. But it would not require someone to register as a sex offender.
Fourth degree Criminal Sexual Conduct (statutory rape) and possession of illegal pornography are the most common state infractions. These and other internet sex crimes can also be federal offenses.

How We Make A Difference For You

See What Our Clients Say

abdiqani jamal
abdiqani jamal
05:28 04 Mar 23
For 2 years of my life I lived in fear and anxiety of prison and having my record ruined for the rest of my life at such a young age over a crime I never committed. For that time I worked with this law firm on this case and the professionalism and care I received was one I have never seen before in my life. We ended up taking the case to trial and quite honesty what I saw was unbelievable, Brody was one of the greatest lawyers I have ever come across in my life, the attention to detail, the hard work, and intelligence was out of this world we won a unanimous decision of not guilty and to say that I have been satisfied with choosing this law firm is a complete understatement. I truly believe that if I had not been working with this firm and my lawyer was not Brody Hacken I would not have received this victory and I would be sitting in a prison with my entire life ruined today. I mean this with all sincerity thank you so much for saving my life.
Doug Fanning
Doug Fanning
12:55 02 Mar 23
Gerald Miller helped me with a bizarre situation. Something was illegal that most of us would not think it was. Gerry was able to use his years of experience and long time relationships to get the charge adjudicated. This saved my job and I am ever grateful to Gerry. Great law firm with established roots in the community.
Richard Huntley
Richard Huntley
21:42 16 Feb 23
Reached out to Kyle for some clarification and guidance in my situation and he was very helpful and took the time to ensure he understood the situation before answering my questions. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Jaime Miller
Jaime Miller
15:32 18 Jan 23
Sumanth Prakash
Sumanth Prakash
18:28 05 Jan 23
Very comforting and helpful !! I really looked up to them and very responsive at any time
Austin Thompson
Austin Thompson
16:08 27 Dec 22
In my own experience with Mr. Kyle dreger, he was incredibly professional and down to earth while simultaneously being comforting and light hearted to work with on my case. He managed to lower a possible several year prison sentence down to a year of house arrest with probation time. I would recommend Mr. Dreger to anyone in need of legal assistance. Mr. Dreger fought for me to ensure I got the best possible outcome from my case

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