Practice Areas

There may be things we can do to help you prior to a charging decision by the prosecuting attorney. If you were arrested and the police have offered to let you “work off” the charge by cooperating, you should absolutely talk to an attorney before making any commitment. We can help you decide what you want to do, and be your advocate throughout the process, whatever you decide.

If you have been charged, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney. We will conduct a thorough analysis of your case, and may even find a defense you didn’t realize you have. We take great pride in the results we have achieved for our clients, and in our individualized approach to each case. Success means different things in different cases. We have had a number of cases dismissed, including after successfully litigating motions to suppress. In other cases, we have successfully argued for below guidelines sentences. We will review the facts and law that apply to your case, advise you of all of your options, and be your advocate at every step of the way.

If you have already pled guilty, but are having second thoughts, you need to contact an attorney right away. Withdrawing your plea is typically very difficult, but you have the best chance of succeeding if the motion is made before you are sentenced.

Unless you have waived it, you have the right to appeal your conviction and/or sentence.

However, you right to appeal comes with strict time limits which can be as short as ten days. If you are interested in appealing your case, you need to talk to an attorney right away. Only an experienced attorney can review your case to determine whether your case presents issues likely to change the outcome.

A person who was convicted but is no longer able to pursue direct appeal may be able to obtain post-conviction relief by petitioning the district court. Common grounds for post-conviction relief
include:

• Newly discovered evidence
• Ineffective assistance of counsel
• Changes in the law

Not sure whether you should file for post-conviction relief? No problem. At F. Clayton Tyler, P.A., our experienced criminal defense attorneys will do a thorough review of your case. We will review the facts and the law, from your trial or guilty plea through sentencing, appeal, and any prior petitions for post-conviction relief. We will give you an honest and complete assessment of your options, the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments you could raise, and any risks of going forward.
If you decide not to file, we hope our analysis and attention to detail will give you peace of mind. But if you do opt to proceed, we will litigate your case aggressively.

There are time limits that apply to petitions for post-conviction relief. Whether you know you want to proceed, or are still unsure, contact us today for a free initial consultation.

Expungement is a process for hiding criminal records from the general public. Through expungement, a court can order that some or all records relating to a case be sealed, meaning they are no longer accessible to the public.

Under certain circumstances, such as if your case has been resolved in your favor, you may be entitled to have your records expunged. Under other circumstances, you may be able to get discretionary relief from the court. For cases that qualify, statutory expungement is a broad remedy which allows a court to seal “all records relating to an arrest, indictment or information, trial, or verdict.” This includes the court, police, prosecutorial, probation, and BCA records. For cases which do not qualify for statutory expungement, judicial expungement may provide a limited remedy, sealing court records. Depending on your circumstances, expungement may help you when applying for jobs or housing, or anytime a criminal record check may be run.

An experienced Minnesota expungement lawyer can help you determine whether some or all of your records can be sealed. An attorney can answer your questions about the process and requirements, be your advocate, and stand beside you at every step.

At F. Clayton Tyler, P.A., we believe that anything that is worth doing is worth doing well. The first time. The expungement process can be tedious, and there are many details which must be attended to. Anyone who is seeking expungement would benefit from the experience, expertise, and knowledge of a professional advocate. We have the skills and experience to ensure that the best possible arguments and evidence are presented to the judge in support of your petition for expungement.