CRIMINAL LAW ATTORNEY
Areas of Practice:
All Minnesota Crimes including: Domestic Assault – Drug Crimes – Driving Under the Influence (DUI) – Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) – Murder – Manslaughter – Homicide – Sex Crimes – Violent Crimes – Theft – Traffic – Juvenile Crimes – Trials – Appeals
Understanding Criminal Law Cases
Whether you wish to negotiate a favorable plea deal or would rather mount a strategic and aggressive defense, our attorneys are able to offer the legal assistance you need to gain the upper hand throughout your proceedings. We practice in both federal and state court, and handle issues ranging from petty misdemeanor traffic violations to felony charges carrying sentences of more than 360 months. We have dedicated our careers to protecting the rights of people charged with crimes. Your guilt or innocence has no impact on how aggressively we will fight for you. We have obtained not guilty verdicts in cases ranging from DWI to 1st Degree Murder. We have even made new law at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
With extensive knowledge gained from representing hundreds of clients throughout Minnesota, we are able to provide the frank and informative advice you need to make the strongest decisions possible for your defense and your future. Whether taking your case to trial, fighting constitutional issues at pretrial, appealing improper trial court decisions, or negotiating the best possible plea, Cadem Law Group is committed to leaving no stone left unturned in your defense.
Free advice is a rare thing in the law, but here is some: Do not speak to the police. Ever. The police are there to gather evidence and get convictions. They are humans, and humans make mistakes, misunderstand, and misinterpret just like regular people. Simply changing a question mark into a period in a police report is all that it takes to put you in prison for the rest of your life. For example:
1. “I killed my wife? I am not crazy!”
2. “I killed my wife. I am not crazy!”
In statement 1, you asked a question out of surprise, and exclaimed that you were not crazy enough to do that. In statement 2, you admitted to killing your wife and also stated you weren’t crazy when you did it. All that changed was the officer’s interpretation of whether you asked a question or made an assertion. With the swipe of a pen (or a typo) you could be looking at life in prison.
Domestic Assault Crimes
Domestic assault crimes, although often just misdemeanors, can affect your life in more ways than most felonies. These crimes oftentimes mushroom into orders for protection, divorces and messy custody disputes. Just being charged with domestic assault can result in you being excluded from your own home indefinitely and prevented from having contact with your spouse and children. If you work in a facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, you will likely also lose your job—and all of that happens before you even have a trial. If you are convicted, you will also lose your right to own or possess a firearm for life.
Having represented hundreds of Minnesotans charged with domestic related crimes, we have the skill, passion, and experience necessary to effectively fight for your rights and to return your life to normal.
Drug Crimes
Drug charges stemming from possession, sale, trafficking, and manufacturing are complex and often come with serious consequences. A conviction for a drug crime can result in a lifetime ban on owning or possessing a firearm; prevent you from working at a facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services; or prevent you from obtaining a federal student loan. With the many penalties and lasting consequences stemming from a conviction, you need an experienced lawyer passionate about defending against these charges. Hiring a lawyer who understands how to help you mount an aggressive defense can significantly improve your chances of having the charges dismissed or reduce the penalties of a conviction.
At Cadem Law Group, we are passionate about aggressively defending our clients’ rights. We will leave no stone unturned while defending you against drug charges and protecting your rights during the process.
DUI/DWI Crimes
Drunk driving convictions can have an immediate and lasting impact on your daily routine, eventually costing you great expense and inconveniencing your friends and relatives. A DWI conviction can lead to a license suspension, hefty fines, and jail time-penalties that may be avoided with the assistance of an experienced trial lawyer.
At Cadem Law Group, we are dedicated to aggressively defending our clients’ rights. From the moment you are arrested and throughout your proceedings, our staff stands by your side to offer the aggressive no-nonsense defense you need to protect your rights throughout your case.
It is not uncommon for criminal defendants to feel like their case is hopeless. However, most people do not know the law well enough to know when, for instance, there are constitutional issues that may require a dismissal of the charge(s). As your attorney, we will carefully examine the events leading to your traffic stop and the arresting officer’s actions during the stop, and any test administered. We will determine, among other things:
• Whether the implied consent advisory was properly administered.
• Whether you were lawfully placed under arrest or subject to a proper traffic stop.
• Whether you were given a proper opportunity to consult with an attorney before taking any blood alcohol test.
• Whether the blood alcohol test was administered in accordance with the rules and procedures; and
• Whether the charging documents are complete and proper.
Sometimes even the smallest mistake can provide leverage to have the charges reduced or dismissed.
Murder/Manslaughter/Homicide
In these cases, someone lost their life and you have been accused of it causing it. These cases are very complex and the State usually assigns their best and most aggressive prosecutor to handle them. You need an aggressive and experienced attorney like Christopher Cadem to handle them. A very small and select number of criminal defense attorneys handle these types of cases. An even small number have obtained jury acquittals like Mr. Cadem has. Do not risk your life in the hands of an incompetent or inexperienced defense attorney. Hire Cadem Law Group to take your life back.
Sex Crimes
Sex crimes can include allegations of:
• Rape
• Sexual Assault
• Criminal Sexual Conduct
• Child Pornography
• Sex Trafficking
• Indecent Exposure
• Prostitution/Solicitation
We have successfully represented dozens of people charged with all of these types of crimes. Just being charged with the crime is life changing, as are convictions. Most convictions come with sex offender registration, and many with long prison sentences. These cases are rarely cases that can be resolved by plea because there is no middle ground, and prosecutors will rarely dismiss.
Our attorney Christopher Cadem’s record jury acquittal—12 minutes—was in a case in which his client was accused of masturbating in public view. The witness who allegedly saw it was a law enforcement employee, and the Court allowed the jury to hear the details about two prior incidents where the Defendant was convicted of the same conduct. The deck was stacked against the defense, but the State’s case was no match for the diligence and legal prowess of Cadem Law Group. Despite the odds, we never gave up.
Let us tilt the odds in your favor and fight for your rights.
Federal Crimes
Federal charges often carry enhanced penalties, including extensive periods of incarceration in prison, hefty fines, and damaging felony records. Such penalties can also significantly impact your family, your reputation, and your ability to obtain or maintain a job. When facing federal prosecution for charges such as drug possession, money laundering, conspiracy, and racketeering, you need a strong defense. Hiring a lawyer who understands how to help you mount an aggressive and effective defense can significantly improve your chances of having the charges dismissed or having the penalties stemming from a conviction reduced.
Federal crimes may include:
• Drug possession
• Drug trafficking
• Drug manufacturing
• Conspiracy
• Money laundering
• Racketeering
• Child pornography
• Illegal re-entry
• Illegally transporting aliens
• Wire fraud
• Mail fraud
Free Consultation
If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney or would like to learn more about the process and your rights, we invite you to call our law offices to schedule a free consultation. All consultations are 100% confidential.
A Law Firm You Can Trust
We understand that being faced with criminal charges is one of the most difficult and important challenges with which a person will ever deal. That is why we prepare every case with meticulous detail rather than rushing to a plea bargain. By taking this approach, we are able to quickly and decisively strike at the heart of the case and obtain the best possible result. This aggressive, innovative, and professional approach has created our well-deserved reputation for getting superior results.
Free Consultation
Proudly Serving:
Proudly fighting for the rights of people across the entire state of Minnesota, including Ramsey County, Hennepin County, Otter Tail County, Wahpeton, Wilkin County, Washington County, Becker County, Clay County, Wadena County, Douglas County, Grant County, Wright County, Dakota County, Scott County, Carver County, Anoka County, Pope County, Stillwater, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, Elbow Lake, Alexandria, Pelican Rapids, Perham, Alexandria, Wadena, Morris, Breckenridge . . . and everyone in between.