Attorney Practice Areas, all Minnesota counties

Bill Sherry vigorously defends people accused of all felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor crimes and charges in all Minnesota courts, including:

• DWI / DUI, driving under the influence
• Drug charges, controlled substance offenses
• detox release
• Theft, burglary
• probation violations
• Juvenile crimes & offenses
• harassment
• restraining orders, orders for protection
• fleeing the police
• terroristic threats
• disorderly conduct
• Domestic abuse
• failure to register
• drivers license revocation
• arson
• Assault
• indecent exposure
• obstructing legal process
• criminal sexual conduct
• gun charges, weapons offenses
• prostitution, solicitation of prostitution
• forfeitures, fraud, embezzlement,
• homicide, manslaughter

DWI/DUI Driving While Impaired
Driving Under the Influence / Drunk Driving
Criminal penalties for DWI charges in Minnesota range from probation and fines up to actual prison sentences. Mandatory minimum jail sentences apply to many cases. In addition to criminal penalties, people facing DWI charges can also expect driving privileges to be revoked or cancelled. Some cases also involve license plate impoundment and vehicle forfeiture. Beyond criminal punishment, driver's license revocation, license plate impoundment and vehicle forfeiture, DWI charges can also dramatically raise the cost of car insurance and make it very difficult to get insurance. People who need a driver's license for work also risk losing their job.

The consequences of a DWI arrest are significant, so it makes sense to get legal advice. An experienced DWI attorney can explain the process, identify any defenses you may have, explain your options and help you get through the difficult process with the least possible punishment.

If you or someone you know is facing DWI charges, call attorney Bill Sherry for legal advice. Bill will explain what he can do to help, and discuss what that would cost so you can make good decisions about how to get through it in the best way possible.

Driver's License Revocation/Ignition Interlock Program

Driver's License Revocation / Ignition Interlock Program
In addition to the criminal consequences of a DWI charge, there are also significant driver's license revocation consequences. Minnesota law allows a narrow 30 day window of opportunity to challenge a driver's license revocation in court, so it is important to seek legal advice promptly after notice of a driver's license revocation. Minnesota law allows most drivers to get their driving privileges back much more quickly under the Ignition Interlock Program. Ignition interlock involves a device installed in a vehicle that prevents the vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver's breath. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Ignition Interlock website is a good source for information about the Ignition Interlock Program.

Juvenile Crimes
Juvenile Court / Juvenile Charges
In Minnesota, juveniles can be charged with the same criminal charges as adults. Prosecution of juvenile cases is similar in many ways to the process in adult court, but there are some significant differences. Generally, the objective in juvenile court is rehabilitation rather than punishment. But when a kid gets convicted (adjudicated delinquent) in juvenile court, that juvenile record can cause many problems in a child's young adult years. Some juvenile matters are confidential, but other records are publicly available. When a young adult applies for college, a job, an apartment or anything else, a background check that reveals a juvenile conviction can be the difference between approval and rejection.

Fortunately, there are many ways to help kids get good results in juvenile court. Everyone wants to avoid jail time, and a lawyer can certainly help with that. But a lawyer on your side in juvenile court can make a big difference in keeping the offense off a child's juvenile record, to put them in the best position possible as they head into their challenging young adult years.

If you need advice about how to handle a juvenile court matter, please call Bill Sherry. With more than 20 years' experience in juvenile court, Bill Sherry can help you figure out whether it makes sense to get a lawyer involved. When you know what Bill Sherry can do to help and what that would cost, you will be in a better position to make good decisions about how to handle a juvenile case.

Theft
There are many kinds of theft charges, such as shoplifting, theft by check, dishonored checks, forgery, swindle, unauthorized use of credit cards, embezzlement, employee theft, car theft, wrongfully obtaining public assistance, theft of services, theft of controlled substances, failure to return property, theft by false representation, and several others. Generally, theft offenses are charged as a felony if the value of the property or services is over $1,000.00, and penalties are typically higher for repeat offenses.

There are several defenses strategies for theft charges, and various ways to resolve theft cases that do not result in a criminal conviction, such as diversion programs and paying restitution. I will carefully review the facts and details of your situation to help determine the best defense for your case.

Drugs
Drug charges can arise from wrongful possession or sale of prescription medicine as well as street drugs. Most drug crimes are felonies, which usually have harsh and long-lasting consequences for employment, rental qualifications and many other things that involve background checks. Defense of drug charges often involves careful review of whether the police properly followed complex search and seizure laws; because if drugs were illegally seized, the evidence may be suppressed and the charges dismissed. Minnesota controlled substance laws also allow some drug offenses to be placed on probation without any criminal conviction. People facing drug charges often need advice about whether to get involved in drug treatment. I carefully review each case to determine the best way to represent and defend each individual client.

Assault
Assaults that involve a weapon or serious injuries are usually charged as felonies. But it doesn't take much more than an argument to end up getting charged with misdemeanor domestic assault. Police routinely arrest people on domestic assault charges and hold them in jail until they see a judge. Getting released from jail often includes restrictions that prevent the accused person from returning home or having contact with loved ones. Assault cases often get over-charged, and can be defended by showing that you didn't intend any harm, or were acting in self-defense. Assault convictions usually involve serving jail time. As with any criminal charge, an assault conviction can have long-lasting consequences for things like employment, background checks and firearms possession. Because the stakes are high, it is important to identify all of the defenses available to you.

Bill Sherry represents people who are accused of breaking the law in all Minnesota counties and courts. He has an office in Apple Valley, Dakota County, Minnesota and makes regular and frequent appearances in many Minnesota courts, including Hennepin County / Minneapolis, Ramsey County / St. Paul, Dakota County / Hastings, Washington County / Stillwater, Carver County / Chaska, Scott County / Shakopee, Goodhue County / Red Wing, Rice County / Faribault, Mower County / Austin, Steele County / Owatonna, McLeod County / Glencoe, Wright County / Buffalo, Sibley County / Gaylord, LeSueur County / Le Center, Sherburne County / Elk River, Isanti County / Cambridge, Chisago County / Center City, Stearns County / St. Cloud, Nicollet County / St. Peter, Blue Earth County / Mankato, Brown County / New Ulm, Olmsted County / Rochester, St. Louis County / Duluth, Martin County / Fairmont, Anoka County, Wabasha County, Winona County, and throughout the State of Minnesota.

As a criminal defense lawyer Bill Sherry practices and represents people in virtually all Minnesota cities, particularly in and around the Twin Cities, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, as well as Edina, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Burnsville, Rochester, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Eagan, St. Cloud, Coon Rapids, Maple Grove, Woodbury, Blaine, Lakeville, Minnetonka, Apple Valley, Edina, St. Louis Park, Brooklyn Center, Maplewood, Austin, Belle Plaine, Buffalo, Cannon Falls, Chanhassen, Chisago City, Columbia Heights, Cottage Grove, Crystal, Elk River, Excelsior, Farmington, Fairmont, Forest Lake, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hastings, Hopkins, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, Jordan, Lake Crystal, Lino Lakes, Lonsdale, Mankato, Mendota Heights, New Brighton, New Prague, Northfield, Oakdale, Owatonna, Prior Lake, Red Wing, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Rosemount, Shakopee, Shoreview, South St. Paul, Stillwater, Wayzata, West St. Paul and Winona.

Contact Bill Sherry directly: 952-423-8423.
Or email bsherry@sherrylaw.com

All criminal charges, all Minnesota counties.
Over 20 years experience.

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