Criminal charges upend your life in ways most people never see coming.
One arrest can trigger consequences that ripple through your job, your family, your finances. Maybe bail gets set higher than you expected. Maybe you’re facing prosecutors who handle hundreds of cases while you’re dealing with this for the first time. Or maybe the charges don’t match what actually happened, but the system moves forward anyway.
The Coodin Law Office represents people in Woodbury and throughout Washington County who are facing criminal charges. Because once the state files charges, you’re not just dealing with police anymore. You’re up against prosecutors who do this every day. They have resources, experience, and time that most defendants simply don’t have.
They do this every day. You don’t.
Criminal defense means challenging the prosecution’s case, protecting your rights, and fighting for the best possible outcome. And when you really need it, you need someone who knows how Washington County courts work.
The financial hit from a criminal conviction can be way bigger than the fine listed on the charging document.
Court fines and fees for misdemeanors in Minnesota might start around several hundred dollars, but felony convictions can mean thousands. Then there’s probation supervision fees, electronic home monitoring, drug testing, and treatment programs. All of that costs money.
But those direct costs are just the beginning. Lost wages hit immediately if you’re held in custody or can’t make it to work for court appearances. Some people lose their jobs entirely once employers learn about charges. Professional licenses can be suspended or revoked. Background checks block job applications. Landlords reject rental applications. Immigration consequences for non-citizens can include deportation.
Car insurance rates can skyrocket after a DUI conviction, sometimes doubling or tripling. Some convictions trigger driver’s license suspensions or revocations, which means paying for rides to work or losing your job because you can’t get there.
And some costs are just harder to measure. Relationships suffer. Stress compounds. Opportunities close. The conviction stays on your record and follows you.
Minnesota criminal penalties vary widely based on the severity of the charge and your criminal history.
Misdemeanors can result in up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $1,000. Gross misdemeanors can mean up to one year in jail and fines up to $3,000. Felonies start getting serious, with potential prison sentences ranging from five years to decades.
But jail time and fines are just part of it. Probation can last years and comes with strict conditions. Violations can land you back in custody.
Then there are the collateral consequences that courts don’t always explain clearly:
For DUI convictions specifically, Minnesota imposes mandatory minimum sentences. You’re looking at potential license revocation, ignition interlock device requirements, and whiskey plates.
Criminal cases in Washington County can move surprisingly fast or drag on for months. It depends.
Misdemeanor cases might resolve within a few months if you reach a plea agreement early. Felony cases typically take longer because there’s more at stake and more evidence to review. Serious felonies can stretch six months to over a year, especially if the case goes to trial.
Initial appearance happens within 48 hours of arrest if you’re in custody. The prosecutor files a formal complaint. Bail gets set. Then comes a series of pretrial hearings where your attorney might file motions to suppress evidence or dismiss charges.
Discovery can take time. Your attorney needs to review police reports, witness statements, body camera footage, lab results, and other evidence. Plea negotiations happen throughout this process. Some cases never settle, and you go to trial.
Trials themselves might last a few days or several weeks depending on complexity. Then sentencing happens on a separate date, often weeks later.
And if you’re held in custody the entire time? Every day feels longer.
The Coodin Law Office handles criminal charges throughout Woodbury and Washington County.
DUI and impaired driving offenses make up a significant portion of criminal cases. Officers from the Woodbury Police Department and Minnesota State Patrol conduct traffic stops along Interstate 94, Interstate 494, Highway 61, and Valley Creek Road regularly.
Drug-related charges range from simple possession to serious felonies. Possession of controlled substances, possession with intent to sell, and drug paraphernalia charges come up frequently.
Theft crimes include shoplifting, burglary, robbery, motor vehicle theft, and identity theft. Cases involving thefts from businesses near the Woodbury Lakes shopping area or retail theft from stores along Tamarack Road are common.
Assault and violent crime charges cover domestic assault, simple assault, aggravated assault, and terroristic threats.
Sex crimes carry particularly harsh consequences. Criminal sexual conduct charges can result in mandatory registration as a sex offender.
White collar crimes include fraud, embezzlement, forgery, and financial crimes.
Weapons charges involve illegal possession of firearms, carrying without a permit, and weapons violations. Minnesota has specific restrictions on who can possess firearms, especially for people with prior felony convictions or certain domestic assault convictions.
Traffic violations sometimes escalate to criminal charges. Driving after suspension, fleeing police, and reckless driving can result in criminal penalties beyond simple traffic tickets.
Juvenile offenses require careful handling because the juvenile justice system works differently.
Criminal charges upend your life in ways most people never see coming.
One arrest can trigger consequences that ripple through your job, your family, your finances. Maybe bail gets set higher than you expected. Maybe you’re facing prosecutors who handle hundreds of cases while you’re dealing with this for the first time. Or maybe the charges don’t match what actually happened, but the system moves forward anyway.
The Coodin Law Office represents people in Woodbury and throughout Washington County who are facing criminal charges. Because once the state files charges, you’re not just dealing with police anymore. You’re up against prosecutors who do this every day. They have resources, experience, and time that most defendants simply don’t have.
They do this every day. You don’t.
Criminal defense means challenging the prosecution’s case, protecting your rights, and fighting for the best possible outcome. And when you really need it, you need someone who knows how Washington County courts work.
Talking to police without an attorney present is probably the biggest mistake people make.
Plenty of people think they can explain their way out of trouble. That’s almost never what happens. Officers are trained to gather evidence to support charges. They’re not there to help you avoid prosecution.
Even innocent explanations can be twisted or taken out of context later. Something you say trying to minimize your involvement can become evidence of guilt. And once you’ve given a statement, you can’t take it back.
Minnesota law gives you the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Use those rights.
Another common mistake is consenting to searches. If police ask to search your car, your home, or your belongings, you can refuse. If they have a warrant, they’ll search anyway. But if they’re asking permission, it probably means they don’t have legal grounds to search without your consent.
People also hurt their cases by talking to friends and family about the details. Those conversations aren’t privileged. Your friends can be subpoenaed and forced to testify about what you told them. Only conversations with your attorney are protected.
Social media posts are another problem. People post things that contradict their defense without realizing it. Prosecutors search social media for evidence.
Missing court dates is a fast way to make things worse. Miss a court appearance and the judge issues a warrant for your arrest. Now you have a new charge for failure to appear on top of the original charges.
Some people wait too long to contact an attorney. Evidence disappears over time. Witness memories fade. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. Your attorney needs time to investigate and build a defense.
Maybe. It depends on the specific facts and legal issues in your case.
Charges get dismissed when the prosecution’s evidence is insufficient, when constitutional rights were violated, or when the prosecution can’t prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. But dismissals don’t happen automatically. Your attorney has to identify the legal problems and file appropriate motions.
Fourth Amendment violations are one common basis for dismissal. If police stopped you without reasonable suspicion, searched you without probable cause, or seized evidence illegally, that evidence might be suppressed. Without the evidence, the prosecution might not be able to prove the charges.
For example, if an officer pulled you over on Valley Creek Road without a valid reason, any evidence obtained during that stop could be inadmissible.
Sometimes charges get dismissed because of problems with how evidence was collected or tested. Lab errors happen. Chain of custody issues arise. If the prosecution’s evidence is unreliable, your attorney can challenge its admissibility.
Witness credibility problems can lead to dismissals. If the alleged victim or key witnesses have credibility issues, changed their stories, or aren’t cooperating with prosecution, the case might not be strong enough to proceed.
In some cases, charges get dismissed as part of a negotiated resolution. Maybe you complete a diversion program or treatment. These negotiated dismissals require an attorney who can work with prosecutors effectively.
Not every case has grounds for dismissal. Sometimes the evidence is strong and the prosecution followed proper procedures. But even then, your attorney might negotiate a reduction in charges.
Taking a plea deal means you admit guilt to specific charges in exchange for an agreed-upon sentence or recommendation.
The advantage is certainty. You know what the outcome will be. No surprises. No risk of a jury convicting you of more serious charges than what was offered in the plea. Plea deals often involve reduced charges or lighter sentences than what you’d face after trial.
But accepting a plea means giving up your right to trial, your right to challenge the evidence, and your right to make the prosecution prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Once you plead guilty, you’ve got a conviction on your record.
Going to trial means making the prosecution prove every element of the charges. The burden of proof is on the state. They have to convince all twelve jurors beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s a high standard.
Trials give you the chance to challenge witness testimony through cross-examination. Your attorney can expose inconsistencies, bias, or memory problems. You can present your own evidence and witnesses.
The risk of trial is that juries sometimes convict despite defenses or reasonable doubt. If the jury convicts you after trial, the judge might impose a harsher sentence than what was offered in the plea deal.
Whether to take a plea or go to trial is one of the most important decisions in a criminal case. Your attorney can advise you based on the strength of the evidence, the plea offer, and your priorities. But ultimately, it’s your choice.
A criminal conviction creates a public record that shows up in background checks.
Employers routinely run background checks on job applicants. Many employers have policies against hiring people with certain types of convictions. Violent crimes, theft offenses, and sex crimes create particular barriers.
Professional licenses in fields like nursing, teaching, accounting, law, and financial services can be denied or revoked because of criminal convictions.
Landlords frequently require background checks. Many rental properties reject applicants with criminal records, especially for violent crimes or drug offenses.
Immigration consequences for non-citizens can be severe. Many criminal convictions are grounds for deportation, even for lawful permanent residents.
Firearm rights are lost for many felony convictions and certain misdemeanor convictions including domestic assault. Getting those rights restored is possible in some cases but requires petitioning the court.
Some convictions require sex offender registration, which restricts where you can live and work.
The collateral consequences of conviction extend far beyond the sentence imposed by the court. And they last for years or decades.
Minnesota allows expungement of certain criminal records under specific circumstances.
Expungement seals the record so it doesn’t appear in most background checks. It doesn’t erase the record completely, but it removes it from public view. Law enforcement and courts can still access sealed records, but employers and landlords generally cannot.
Eligibility for expungement depends on the type of offense, how much time has passed, and your subsequent criminal history. Dismissals and acquittals can often be expunged immediately. Convictions require waiting periods that vary by offense severity.
For misdemeanor convictions, you generally need to wait two years from being discharged from probation. Gross misdemeanors require three years. Felonies require four years in many cases, though some serious felonies aren’t eligible for expungement at all.
The expungement process involves filing a petition with the court, providing notice to law enforcement and prosecutors, explaining why the benefit to having the conviction expunged is more important to you than the record being made available to the public, and attending a hearing. Prosecutors can oppose expungement petitions. Courts aren’t required to grant expungement even if you meet the eligibility requirements.
Getting your record expunged requires navigating court procedures and presenting your case effectively.
Stop talking to anyone about your case except an attorney.
Don’t discuss the details with friends, family, or anyone else. Don’t post anything on social media about the case. Don’t try to contact witnesses or the alleged victim. Don’t consent to any searches or give any statements to police.
If you’ve been charged, gather any documents related to your case. Charging documents, bail paperwork, court notices, police reports if you have them.
Write down your own recollection of what happened while it’s fresh in your memory. But don’t share this with anyone except your attorney.
If there’s any evidence that might support your defense, identify it now before it disappears. Surveillance footage from businesses gets overwritten. Witnesses move or forget details. Text messages get deleted.
Follow all bail conditions exactly. Show up to every court date. If you have a no-contact order, don’t violate it under any circumstances. Violations create new charges and make your original case worse.
Contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. The earlier an attorney gets involved, the more options you have. Early investigation can uncover evidence that leads to charges being reduced or dismissed.
Criminal defense representation in Woodbury focuses on challenging the prosecution’s case, protecting your constitutional rights, and fighting for the best possible outcome. Washington County courts have their own procedures, their own prosecutors, and their own judges. Local experience matters because attorneys who practice regularly in these courts understand how cases move through the system and what strategies work with specific prosecutors and judges.
