Minneapolis Obstructing Justice Attorney
Obstructing justice in Minnesota means interfering with the legal process, firefighting efforts, or arrest efforts. This includes interfering with the jobs of federal and state investigators, prosecutors, regulatory agencies, and other state or federal government officials.
If you have been accused of obstructing justice, the Anderson Law Firm, PLLC can help you. You will work with an experienced and aggressive Minneapolis criminal defense attorney who has the goal of protecting your best interests and your future so that you can move on with your life.
Common Obstructing Justice Charges
The following are some of the common obstructing justice charges:
- Witness tampering
- Interference with a body
- Escaping custody
- Falsely reporting a crime
- Resisting arrest
- Interfering with an investigation
- Tampering with evidence
The act is any that interferes with legal processes. It can include fleeing a police officer, escape, warning a subject that they are being investigated, giving police a fake name, and any similar act.
Penalties Of Obstruction
The penalties depend on the severity of the crime, such as the amount of violence or force that was used during the obstruction action. The resulting consequences can be significant fines and jail time, but the lifelong effect is in the criminal record that is established. This can have an impact on your future in the way of keeping you from working at your current job, preventing you from obtaining a new job, finding a place to live, and much more. This is why you need a capable and dedicated Minnesota criminal defense attorney working by your side.
The penalties can include up to 90 days in jail or a fine of up to $700 for resisting arrest, one year in jail and a fine of up to $3,000 for resisting arrest with force, and up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines for felony obstruction with a risk of bodily harm or death.
The obstruction charge can be brought in addition to another charge if there was another criminal act allegedly involved in the commission of the obstruction act.
If you have been charged with obstruction, you can effectively defend yourself with the right attorney by your side. There are strategies that can be used in your case that can result in the charges being dismissed or reduced so that the penalties are not as strict. Even if you cannot avoid conviction, you can avoid the maximum penalty so that you can move forward with your life sooner. Plus, avoiding the harshest penalty looks much better on your record than if you did have to serve the maximum.
Contact A Minnesota Criminal Defense Lawyer
Obstructing justice may not seem like a serious offense, but it is one that can result in imprisonment because it involves interfering with the justice process. Nonetheless, a charge of obstructing justice can be the result of a misunderstanding and this is why it is important that you defend yourself. To get started with your defense, call the Anderson Law Firm, PLLC for a free consultation at 952-582-2904 today.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Please contact attorney Kirk Anderson for an initial consultation.