Minnesota and North Dakota Violent Crime Defense

Our Fargo Criminal Defense Attorneys: Moving You Forward Past Difficult Times

Violent crimes are those that involve the use of physical force or the threat of physical force against another person. Examples of violent crimes include murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, assault, and domestic violence. 

If you or someone you care about has been charged with a violent crime in Minnesota or North Dakota, you need an experienced, aggressive criminal defense lawyer who will help to move you forward through these charges. 

If you are convicted of a violent crime, penalties are severe and could include life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The government prosecutes violent crimes especially vigorously, and may even set out to find a defendant guilty even if the evidence says otherwise. A plea bargain, if one is available, often involves prison or jail time, supervised probation, mandatory classes, along with other penalties.

Defending people against allegations of violent crimes charge requires a tenacious, skilled, and passionate lawyer who works hard to help people facing tremendous odds. 

At Fremstad Law, our Fargo criminal defense lawyers fight for our clients’ freedom by thoroughly investigating the case, and will push the prosecutor to prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. We know that the best way to negotiate a favorable plea bargain is by preparing a rock-solid case. And if negotiation does not lead to a favorable plea agreement, our lawyers have the experience and expertise to take a case to trial.   

Violent Crimes and Penalties in North Dakota

Murder 

In North Dakota, murder is defined as unlawfully and intentionally causing the death of another human being, or causing the death of another human being through extreme indifference to the value of human life. Depending upon how the prosecutor charges the offense, murder may be classified as a Class AA felony, punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole, or a class A felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $20,000, or both.   

Manslaughter, a lesser included offense of murder, is the crime of recklessly causing the death of another human being. It is a Class B felony and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both. 

Kidnapping

Kidnapping occurs when one person abducts another and/or continues to restrain that person for ransom, as a shield or hostage, in a condition of involuntary servitude, to terrorize the person or a third person, while committing a felony, or to interfere with a governmental or political function. 

Kidnapping is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both. 

Assault

Criminal assault occurs when one person willfully causes bodily injury to another person, or negligently causes harm to another person through the use of a firearm, destructive device, or other weapon which is likely to cause serious bodily injury.

Simple assault is usually a Class B misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to 30 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,500, or both.  It may be charged as a Class C felony, carrying a penalty of up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both if the alleged victim is a law enforcement officer or an emergency worker (e.g., paramedic, nurse, doctor, or hospital staff).  

If the injury to the other person is substantial, you could be charged with assault, a Class A misdemeanor, which may result in up to 360 days in jail, a fine of up to $3,000, or both.

Aggravated assault occurs when a person willfully causes serious bodily injury to another person, or causes bodily injury to another person through the use of a dangerous weapon. Aggravated assault is usually a Class C felony, but if the person permanently loses the function of a bodily organ or is permanently disfigured, the prosecutor can charge the offense as a Class B felony carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison, fines of up to $20,000, or both. 

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence occurs if you cause bodily injury to someone who is a family or household member such as a spouse, family member, former spouse, parent, child, persons related by blood or marriage, people living together or have resided together in the past, and people who have a child together. 

Depending on the severity of the injuries, domestic violence may be charged as a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense, a Class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense or if the victim sustains substantial bodily injury, and a Class C felony if the victim sustains serious bodily injury. If the victim is under 12 years of age and sustains substantial bodily injury the crime is punishable as a Class B felony and the person may have to register as an offender against children, just like a sex offender. Punishments range from 30 days in jail, a fine of $1,000, or both for a Class B misdemeanor, to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both for a Class B felony.    

How Our Fargo Criminal Defense Lawyers Can Help

When the government’s vast resources are arrayed against you with the goal of putting you behind bars, a criminal defense lawyer may be the only thing standing between you and a lengthy prison sentence. 

A criminal defense lawyer fights for on due process, making sure that the law is followed and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

When your freedom is on the line, you want a lawyer who will thoroughly and aggressively investigate the facts of the case, raise any defenses available under the law, and fight to have your case dismissed, negotiate a plea bargain, or secure a Not Guilty verdict. 

Defending people against allegations of a violent crime often involves identifying holes in the prosecution’s theory of the case, interviewing witnesses, visiting the scene of the crime, and working with experts and private investigators. A criminal defense lawyer coordinates these efforts towards the goal of having you found Not Guilty.   

Fremstad Law's Fargo Criminal Defense Lawyers — Moving Your Forward

If you or someone you care about was charged with a violent crime you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side as soon as possible. 

The criminal defense lawyers at Fremstad Law have the experience and expertise to defend you against allegations of violent crimes. We know how the prosecution builds their case, and we work hard to protect our clients’ rights. 

Our experienced criminal defense attorneys will zealously defend you, working hard to negotiate a plea bargain, convince the jury to enter a Not Guilty verdict, or even have the case against you thrown out. 

From our offices in Fargo and Valley City, we fight for people throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.