If you have been charged with a crime or were injured at work, there is no room for error when it comes to your case.
Don’t take a chance with your future. Hire a criminal defense attorney or workers compensation lawyer who has handled hundreds of cases.
The criminal defense lawyers and workers comp lawyers of Arechigo & Stokka provide direct, personal attention to your case. Our attorneys are committed to achieving your case goals, no matter the type of injury or criminal charge.
"I reached out to John Arechigo about a case I had and John was outstanding. He made the process very easy for a person who does not know how the process work, and accomplished the goal I wanted. My experience was very positive and I would highly recommend John to anyone who need to have their case looked into or dismiss. Would definitely reach out to John if ever a problem should arise for any future help."
- J Thao
"Best Attorney in MN! Thank you to Mr. John Arechigo and everyone at Arechigo & Stokka, P.A for the exceptional job they did with our case. Because of their professional knowledge, dedicated efforts, hard work, and compassion, we got the outcome that we needed. If you ever need an exceptional attorney for any sort of civil forfeiture, John Arechigo of Arechigo & Stokka, PA is the only law firm I would call. We are grateful and thankful for all they have done to help us get our property back."
- Monica K
"The legal expertise provided by John was nothing less than exceptional. When a sibling of mine was facing multiple serious felonies and in dire need of top-notch representation, John was the man. In and out of the court room, he's knowledge and professional are second to none. Throughout the case, he restored hope into our family. He delivered as he stated, and now we have our family back together. This man is worth every penny, he gets the job done. "
- Safi Khalif
"I have been a client of Arechigo & Stokka for nearly a decade. They provide exceptional legal representation and maintain good working relationships with various judges and prosecuting attorneys in the Twin Cities area. They are well versed in the current laws which are continually changing. This allows them to quickly adapt, if needed, in order to offer the best legal strategy possible for a given case. Arechigo & Stokka treat each case with the utmost importance, work promptly to advocate for their clients’ needs, and communicate openly with each regarding the status of their particular case."
- Abigail Peterson
"John Arechigo is an absolute miracle worker. My friends and I have used him multiple times. Extremely knowledgeable and a wizard in the court room. John always answers his phone and will be with you every step of the way through the legal process. Highly recommended!"
- Bryan Larson
"John was a true professional. He listened to and understood all of my questions, and he always provided a quick and thorough response. If I ever find myself in another situation where a lawyer is necessary, I will not hesitate for a second to call him!"
- Mack Ziemer
"While facing some serious felony level charges that would have potentially put me away for awhile, John's legal expertise proved otherwise. He was very coherent, competent, and consistent in fulfilling his duties throughout the entire process. His constant communication and knowledge about the law kept me at ease, knowing that I had one of the best defense attorneys in MN on my team."
- Mubashir Jeilani
"John is professional, extremely knowledgeable and empathetic. He always answered any questions I had in a timely matter and I felt that he was truly invested in my case from start to finish. I would highly recommend him and his firm."
Jan 18, 2022 | Posted by John Arechigo | Read Time: 2minutes
Minnesota defines some behavior as criminal if it serves to help someone else commit a crime or if it obstructs the State’s efforts to bring an alleged offender to justice. The penalties for rendering such assistance can be severe. Under some circumstances, the State will punish you just as harshly as it would have if you had committed the underlying crime yourself. Aiding and Abetting in Minnesota The police can charge you with aiding and abetting in Minnesota if you help, advise, hire, counsel, conspire with, or otherwise cause someone else to commit a crime. If you do any of these things, you are just as liable as the actual offender, and you might receive the same sentence. Abandonment of Criminal Purpose If you commit acts that amount to aiding and abetting, you may be able to avoid prosecution. To escape prosecution, you must abandon your criminal purpose and make a reasonably positive effort to prevent the crime. Notifying the police, for example, might constitute a reasonable effort to stop the crime. If you abandon your criminal purpose and try to prevent the crime, Minnesota will not hold you criminally liable even if your efforts to stop the crime fail. Aiding an Offender Under Minnesota Statutes 609.495 (“Aiding an Offender”), the State can charge you with a crime for harboring, concealing, aiding, or assisting someone who you know (or should know) is guilty of committing a crime. You must act with the intention of helping the perpetrator avoid arrest, trial, conviction, or punishment. Minnesota can also charge you for assisting, concealing, or aiding someone on parole, probation, or supervised release for a felony, if the State has issued an arrest warrant for that individual. The maximum penalty for either of these two offenses is three years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Obstructing an Investigation Minnesota can charge you with another form of “aiding an offender” if you intentionally assist someone in evading justice after you know (or should know) that they committed a crime. Such assistance can come in several different forms, including: Destroying evidence; Hiding evidence; Providing false or misleading information about the crime; or Other forms of assistance. The maximum penalty for aiding an offender is half of the maximum prison sentence and half of the maximum fine that the original offender might receive. Criminal Prosecutions Move Quickly. Take Immediate Action! If the police have arrested you on an “aiding and abetting” or “aiding an offender” charge, get in touch with Arechigo & Stokka immediately. We understand the Minnesota criminal justice system from the inside out, and we enjoy working relationships with local judges and prosecutors. We promise you aggressive, committed, and intelligent representation. Contact us online or call us at 651-401-7926 to schedule a consultation. We serve clients throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, Dakota County, and Washington County.
Jan 18, 2022 | Posted by John Arechigo | Read Time: 2minutes
You may feel embarrassed to be caught soliciting a prostitute, but should you worry about the legal consequences? In many cases, you could face significant fines and time behind bars. Here, we’ll discuss the criminal penalties you may encounter for soliciting a prostitute in Minnesota. What Is Solicitation of a Prostitute? Solicitation of a prostitute occurs when you hire, offer to hire, or agree to hire another individual to engage in sexual penetration or sexual contact. Minnesota law defines sexual contact broadly as: The intentional touching by an individual of a prostitute’s intimate parts; or The intentional touching by a prostitute of another individual’s intimate parts. Minnesota recently increased penalties for sex crimes. Even if you didn’t engage in any sexual contact, the very act of soliciting sex could lead to serious criminal penalties. Solicitation Charges in St. Paul, Minnesota Soliciting a prostitute can be classified as a gross misdemeanor or as a felony, depending on the circumstances. Is Soliciting a Prostitute a Misdemeanor in MN? Soliciting a prostitute is usually a gross misdemeanor, which carries the following penalties: Up to 90 days in jail; and Up to a $1,500 fine. The court may choose to substitute community service for a fine if paying the fine would cause undue hardship. If you have been previously convicted of a sex crime, penalties for a repeat offense increase to: Up to five years in prison, and A fine of up to $10,000. The courts aren’t inclined to show leniency to repeat offenders, so if you are in this situation, you need a skilled attorney. Is Soliciting a Prostitute a Felony in MN? In some cases, a soliciting a prostitute charge is a felony offense. This happens when you solicit a minor (someone under age 18). The younger the child, the more serious penalties you face. Soliciting a minor carries the following penalties: Up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $40,000 for soliciting a child under age 14; Up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000 for soliciting a child ages 14-15; or Up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 for soliciting a child ages 16-17. In addition, police may confiscate your car if you use it to solicit a prostitute. Similarly, police can confiscate your personal property used to solicit a prostitute, including your cell phone, computer, or money. The offense will also become a permanent part of your driving record. An offense like this on your record can negatively affect your ability to get a job or find desirable housing in Minnesota. Contact an Experienced St. Paul, MN Criminal Defense Attorney If you have been charged with soliciting a prostitute, you need a skilled criminal defense attorney. The penalties for soliciting a prostitute are too severe for you to try to handle on your own. At Arechigo & Stokka, our attorneys have spent decades assisting clients who have criminal charges. We have the experience to know what defenses can work in your case and the dedication to provide you with personalized representation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Jan 18, 2022 | Posted by John Arechigo | Read Time: 2minutes
When you face prosecution for a crime in Minnesota, you usually worry about potential penalties. A good criminal defense attorney will explain the range of penalties and attempt to get your charges reduced or dismissed. However, the criminal process of determining whether the punishment fits the crime does not seem as straightforward as you might think. Do you know that your criminal history can impact the penalties you receive for a new charge? Minnesota uses a complex system to calculate your criminal history score. The Minnesota Sentencing Commission developed the system to help promote fairness and reduce the possibility of bias in sentencing. Here, we will explain the criminal history points system in Minnesota and how it can determine the penalty for a criminal charge in St Paul, MN. Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Minnesota sentencing guidelines take the defendant’s criminal history and the severity of the crime into account when calculating the sentence. While the severity of the alleged crime has the most impact on sentencing guidelines, criminal history also influences the penalty range. The judge can slightly vary the presumptive sentence if there are other factors to consider. To determine your criminal history score, the sentencing guidelines take several factors into account: Prior felonies; Custody status at the time of the offense; Prior misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors; and Prior juvenile offenses. For previous convictions, the severity levels of those crimes also factor into the equation. Felony Point System in MN Prior felonies receive from half a point to two points on the MN felony point grid, depending on the crime. Sex offenses receive up to three points. If an offender receives multiple sentences for one crime, the court calculates only the highest-ranked felony in the criminal history points. If a prior crime involved multiple victims, the highest two ranking felonies would go into the score. Also, if you were charged with a felony in the past but enough time has passed that the prior conviction has expired, no points will be assessed for it. Timing also matters. The felony point system in MN only counts prior crimes that happened within a certain timeframe. If more than 15 years have elapsed since the previous sentence expired, the felony does not count towards the criminal history score. Add points for all felonies together, and if the total results in a partial number, like 5.5 points, round down. Misdemeanor and Gross Misdemeanor Point System Misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors count for fewer points than felonies. Each misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor conviction counts only for a unit. It takes four units to equal one point for criminal history score purposes. Custody Status Defendants in some form of custody or supervised release at the time of the current offense have more points added to their score. Custody status includes situations such as parole, probation, and supervised release. If you commit the current crime after a jail or prison escape, you will also have points added to your score. Also, if you don’t register as a sex offender when required, this will increase your custody status score. Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney in St. Paul, MN As you can see, calculating your criminal history score involves following complex guidelines. If you have been charged with a crime, you need an experienced Minnesota criminal defense attorney who can help calculate your score and present your best defense. At Arechigo & Stokka, we have defended hundreds of people against criminal charges. We will use our legal skills and decades of experience to make every effort to get your charges reduced or dismissed. Contact us today for a free consultation.
