Mike Brandt’s client was charged with gross misdemeanor DWI from an incident occurring in Ramsey, Anoka County, in May of 2017. Mike’s client came to the attention of the police because his boat trailer had broken off the ball hitch and was dragging on the roadway. While the police were originally trying to assist Mike’s client with the trailer, the police accused his client of becoming belligerent, calling the officers names, and engaging in some fairly abusive behavior toward the police officers. The police began to suspect that Mike’s client was under the influence of alcohol and arrested him. Because of the high alcohol reading, Mike’s client was charged with a gross misdemeanor, which would have resulted in up to a year in jail and a $3,000 fine.
In preparing the case, Mike had his client take several proactive steps to show the prosecutor that he took the issue very seriously and Mike convinced the prosecutor to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor. This negotiation resulted in a lesser charge being levied on the client’s record, a lesser period of probation, and lower jail time hanging over his head, as well as lower fines and fees.