Minneapolis Sex Crime Lawyer

If you are convicted of a sex crime in Minnesota, there’s a good chance you will be required to register as a sex offender once you have completed your sentence. A conviction for criminal sexual conduct, soliciting a minor to engage in prostitution or sexual conduct, or felony indecent exposure will result in sex offender registration. Offenders are required to register for a minimum of 10 years.

Whether you face sex crime allegations at the state or federal level, the stakes are high. In addition to lengthy or lifetime terms of sex offender registration, convicted individuals also face life-altering consequences that come with having a sex crime conviction on their record. To minimize these consequences or eliminate them, our attorneys leverage decades of experience, extensive resources, and proven talent to help our clients when they need it most.

The cost of a sex offender lawyer in Minnesota can range depending on the type and degree of sex crime charges being faced. Depending on the severity, sex crime charges may be charged at a misdemeanor or felony level. Sex offender lawyers charge an hourly rate depending upon their experience and qualifications, which averages from $100 to $500 per hour. Typically, sex offender lawyers require a retainer fee ranging from about $2,500-$4,500 at the start of any legal representation and may ask for additional fees based on hourly work down the road. The total cost of a case can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. It is important to thoroughly research sex offender lawyers and their prices before committing to them.

The age of consent in Minnesota is 16. Anyone younger than 16 cannot legally consent to participation in sexual activity. Generally, a Minnesota court will consider sexual activity with anyone 15 years or younger statutory rape.

Many states have a “Romeo and Juliet law,” which protects teens and young adults from statutory rape convictions if they engaged in consensual sexual activity with someone who is below the age of consent, so long as the two individuals are close in age. Minnesota, however, does not have this type of close-in-age exemption. Two 15-year-olds who engage in consensual sexual activity, for example, may both be prosecuted for statutory rape.

The public does not necessarily have access to information about everyone on the sex offender registry. The amount of people who know about an offender depends on the offender’s level. Minnesota’s predatory offender community notification law organizes the registry into three levels:

• Level I Offenders: those with a low risk of re-offense. Only law enforcement agencies, witnesses of the crime, victims of the crime, and the victims’ immediate adult family members can access information about the offender.
• Level II Offenders: those with a moderate risk of re-offense. The law enforcement agency can disclose information about the offender to the staff members of organizations the offender will likely encounter, such as educational institutions or daycare facilities. The agency may also notify individuals if it believes the offender may target them in the future.
• Level III Offenders: those with a high risk of re-offense. While the type of notification depends on the risk factors of each unique situation, the law enforcement agency may disclose information about a Level III Offender to parents of children at any given facility or even the general public at a community meeting.

The process of getting sex offender charges dropped will vary depending on the jurisdiction and the specifics of the case. Generally, the best way to get sex offender charges dropped is to work with an experienced sex crime attorney in Minneapolis who can help you build a strong defense and negotiate a plea bargain or other resolution. Additionally, there may be other options such as petitioning the court for a dismissal or expungement.