Category: Criminal Law
BGS announces the addition of a new associate to the firm
May 13, 2021 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
Mikael J. Ingvaldson has joined the firm’s Personal Injury and Criminal Law department. He will be working closely with attorneys practicing in those areas serving existing clients and enhancing the firm’s ability to serve our community. Mikael began his career with BGS as a law clerk in the PI and Criminal Law department in 2019. Finding it a perfect fit for his desire to pursue a career helping people navigate the legal system when they are in need, Mikael was thrilled to accept a permanent position in the department upon earning his JD from University of St. Thomas School of Law and passing the bar exam. Prior to joining BGS, Mikael clerked for a small PI firm in Roseville, where his interest in pursuing a career in PI originated. Mikael also has experience working with the Chaska Public Defenders office where he appeared in court for first appearances, arraignments, pre-trial hearings, and probation violations. He has experience with negotiating plea bargains, conducting interviews with clients, and assisting them with evaluating their options. Barna, Guzy and Steffen, LTD. has a long-standing tradition of helping clients with their legal needs, serving generations of clients in the north metro. Mikael is excited to be working with Attorneys Adriel Villarreal and John Buchman on our PI and…
Read MoreSTEP BY STEP GUIDE: Can I Get Criminal Charges Against Me Dismissed?
December 15, 2015 | Adriel B. VillarrealCriminal charges will stay on your record. Getting these charges dismissed is the best way to beat a charge and finally be able to move on with your life. While the obvious choice is to hire a criminal defense attorney to help you beat your charges, there are some vital steps that will need to be taken when a case goes to dismissal. 1. Understand Grounds for Dismissal Dismissal may come from the following: Lack of probable cause Lack of evidence Illegal stop and search Improper filing Lack of key witness Normally, dismissals will only occur before an appeal, but there is a chance that if an appeal is won, all charges will be dismissed. 2. View Your Options As you now understand, there are various reasons that a charge may be dismissed. You’ll need to build your defense based on these reasons. Let’s take an in-depth look at each: Lack of Probable Cause There must be a cause for your arrest. If you were arrested for looking suspicious, this is simply not enough. There always has to be a reason to be arrested. If you were not caught in the act or did not match a witness’ description, you may be able to get a dismissal based on lack of probable cause….
Read MoreSTEP BY STEP GUIDE: How to Behave If You’re Being Arrested
December 3, 2015 | Adriel B. VillarrealIf you’re under arrest, your first instinct may be to resist – especially if you’re innocent. But the way you behave and conduct yourself will have a major impact on the outcome of your case. Knowing how to behave will be the key to a favorable outcome. 1. Stay Calm The first, and most important thing, is to stay calm. Stay in control of your emotions, words and body language. Yelling, using inappropriate language or resisting the officers will only make matters worse for you. Be polite and be respectful. 2. Do Not Try to Run It should go without saying, but you should never try to run or even walk away. Always keep your hands where the officers can see them. Do not put your hands in your pockets or make any sudden movements. Do not touch a police officer either. 3. Don’t Give More Information Than You Have To If necessary, give the police your name and address, but do not provide them with any other information. Always remember that anything you say can and will be used against you. Simply remain silent or ask to speak to your lawyer. 4. Do Not Give the Police Permission to Search Your Vehicle To search a vehicle, the police must have probably cause,…
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