Legal Question in Criminal Law in Minnesota

A 17 year old boy who is friends with a boy my husband has been mentoring for years got himself in trouble and can't afford any legal aid other than that provided for him. The situation is that another teenager who was an acquaintance of the 17 year old shot and wounded an individual and asked the 17 year old to help him stash the gun and he did hide the gun. The gun was subsequently found and now the 17 year old is being held in jail and may be convicted for up to five years. This kid is sweet with a very non-aggressive attitude and disposition who lives in a very harsh neighborhood in north Minneapolis. We are just worried about him getting lousy advice or being scared into taking a bargain, going to jail and becoming hardened from abuse. Do you have any advice at all that could be useful in helping him get a second chance?


Asked on 3/17/10, 3:23 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Ross Brandborg Brudvik Law Office

He obviously did a very dumb thing. I would recommend listening to the Public Defender. Public Defenders know what they are doing and know the system better than any other lawyer in the Courthouse. Public Defenders get a bad rap because they are busy and have little time to talk to clients. I would think that a good deal in this case would be for the 17 year old to testify against the shooter and get some kind of a Stay of a sentence followed with some probation.

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Answered on 3/22/10, 12:52 pm


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