Receiving a speeding ticket may not be quite as severe as some of the criminal defense charges we defend our clients against, but it’s inconvenient nonetheless. No one wants an offense on their record because they were driving just a few miles per hour over the limit....
A Criminal Defense Law Firm’s Take on the Yanez Verdict
We saw this coming. In fact, we predicted it. This prediction was not based on our personal beliefs regarding Officer Yanez’ guilt or innocence, but rather it was based off our personal experience with the criminal justice system in Minnesota. As insiders of the...
S|E DWI Blog #1 – Harsher DWI penalties went into effect on August 1, 2015
Posted: August 6, 2015 Welcome to the first installment of the Sieben Edmunds DWI Blog Series! We'll explore various aspects of DWI law in Minnesota in a series of weekly posts. Think twice before drinking and getting behind the wheel after August 1, 2015. The...
Domestic Violence – Are We Asking the Right Question?
After the recent release of a video showing former NFL running back Ray Rice hitting Janay Palmer, his then fiancé, I feel it is an important time to have some real dialogue about domestic violence. The Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women reports that at least 38...
DWI Blog Series – Part Five – The Limited License and Ignition Interlock
In 2012, the Minnesota Legislature increased the length of license revocations that accompany DWI charges. A few different factors can lead to an increased revocation period. They include: prior offenses, testing .16 or higher, child in the car, and refusal. A first...
DWI Blog Series – Part Four – Motor Vehicle Forfeitures
Minnesota statutes allow the government to forfeit, or take title to, your vehicle if you commit particular types of DWI offenses. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 169A.63 sets out the types of offenses that qualify for vehicle forfeiture. Contrary to popular belief, your...
DWI Blog Series – Part Three – DWI License Revocations
Minnesota Statute mandates immediate driver’s license revocation in many DWI cases. When a person submits to and fails a Datamaster breath test, or refuses testing, the license revocation is virtually immediate. (a) Upon certification by the peace officer that...
DWI Blog Series – Part Two – Minimum DWI Sentences
The Minnesota legislature has enacted laws that call for minimum DWI sentences in certain circumstances. Many prosecutors and judges take the viewpoint that the statutory minimum sentences are mandatory. It is the job of the DWI defense attorney to convince the...
DWI Blog Series – Part One – DWI Implied Consent
Welcome to the first installment of the Sieben Edmunds DWI Blog Series. This series will provide a basic overview of DWI law in Minnesota and then later we’ll get into some of the more specific and complicated aspects of DWI criminal defense. Minnesota’s DWI...
Dakota County First Degree Burglary Case Dismissed
We just received an order from the Dakota County court dismissing all charges against our client in a First Degree Burglary case. Our client was charged with aiding and abetting an alleged burglary despite the fact that he didn’t participate in the crime in any...
Will Your DWI Alcohol Test Be Thrown Out? – McNeely & Brooks
DWI law in Minnesota is truly up in the air. On April 17, 2013, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Missouri v. McNeely and its impact is being felt all across the country, especially in Minnesota. The Court held that law enforcement had violated...
Enhanced DWI Charging
Most first time DWI offenses in Minnesota are misdemeanors. The crime is called Fourth Degree DWI. The maximum penalty for a misdemeanor Fourth Degree DWI is 90 days in local jail and a $1,000 fine, just like all misdemeanors. However, many DWI crimes are charged out...
DWI Vehicle Forfeitures
Today let's talk about motor vehicle forfeitures in DWI cases. Minnesota statutes allow the government to forfeit, or take title to, your vehicle if you commit particular types of DWI offenses. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 169A.63 sets out the types of offenses that...
The Difference Between DWI and DUI & Why it is Important for YOU to Know!
Do you know the difference between a DWI-DUI? Do you know what these acronyms stand for? Is one worse than the other? Let us start first by defining these terms. First there is "DUI" which stands for “Driving Under the Influence. All that is required to be convicted...
Do Not Try This In Court!
Some criminals believe they are invincible and Penelope Soto is no exception. After disrespecting the judge she was appearing before, her punishment increased greatly. Watch the video to find out how. Source: Yahoo! News
Oh No… I Have Been Drinking and I Got Pulled Over!
Kevin Sieben Law, LLC presents a PowerPoint video outlining procedures to follow when stopped for a DWI arrest. The best advice is don't drink and drive.
Power of The Prosecutor
The death of Internet activist Aaron Swartz has lead to a public discussion of the power prosecutors have over defendants. Swartz, famous for his role developing Reddit,a social news and entertainment website, recently died as a result of an apparent suicide....
Minnesota DWI Record Holder
Most people enjoy being record holders, but this record is not one to brag about. Danny Bettcher holds the record for the most DWI’s in Minnesota; 27. A little over one month after Bettcher had been released from prison, he went to a bar and drank. Both conditions...