Minneapolis Felony Lawyer

Felony Attorney in Minneapolis, MN

Being convicted of a felony can have life-altering effects. At a minimum, you’ll face time in prison, hefty fines, and a range of collateral consequences. That’s why you need a skilled Minneapolis felony lawyer on your team to fight for your rights and help you navigate the legal system.

Trust Santana Law, PLLC

Founding attorney Ronnie Santana knows the Minneapolis legal system inside and out. He has worked not just as a criminal defense attorney but also as a prosecutor, giving him an intimate knowledge of what you’re up against when you face felony charges in Minneapolis. When you work with Santana Law, PLLC, you’ll gain access to a wealth of knowledge regarding felony laws and strategies for defending yourself against your charges.

Why Hire a Felony Lawyer in Minneapolis, MN?

In 2024, 8,032 people were charged with felonies in Hennepin County. A total of 3,059 of the cases brought against defendants ended in conviction. Many of these charges and convictions occurred in Minneapolis itself, where 9,322 assault charges were filed in 2024. Additionally, 2,449 burglaries and 74 homicides were filed, to name just a few of the many types of felonies.

If you’re one of many individuals facing felony charges, you need to hire a felony lawyer who can help you come up with an effective defense strategy for your case or negotiate a plea deal on your behalf that helps you avoid the worst potential consequences of a conviction. Felony lawyers are there to help their clients every step of the way, ensuring that they understand the process and giving them access to legal advice and representation throughout.

Types of Felonies Cases We Handle

Santana Law, PLLC, defends clients facing all sorts of felony cases at the Hennepin County Government Center. Common examples of felonies in the Twin Cities can include:

• Aggravated assault
• Grand theft
• Murder
• White collar crimes
• Sexual assault
• Drug crimes

The difference between felonies and misdemeanors is that felony charges are reserved for the most serious crimes. As a result, they also carry the heaviest sentences. That’s why you need a dedicated Minneapolis felony attorney to represent you in your case.

Common Defenses Against Felony Charges in Minneapolis

Coming up with a defense strategy for your case will require a full review of all the details surrounding it. Some of the most common defenses against felony charges include the following:

• Alibi. If your lawyer can demonstrate that you were at a different location when the crime was committed, that creates reasonable doubt. This can usually be accomplished by providing evidence, such as surveillance footage, or by presenting witnesses.
• Self-defense. If you are facing a felony charge for murder or aggravated assault, you may be able to argue that the actions you took were required to protect you from imminent harm. The key to this defense strategy is establishing that your response was reasonable given the perceived threat.
• Mistaken identity. You may be able to establish reasonable doubt as to whether you’ve been correctly identified as the perpetrator. Forensic evidence such as DNA and eyewitness testimony can play a role in this defense strategy, as can digital evidence.
• Lack of evidence. If the prosecution doesn’t have sufficient credible evidence to support a conviction, your lawyer may be able to get the charges dropped.
• Constitutional violations. When investigating officers perform illegal arrests, searches, and seizures, they are violating your constitutional rights. Any evidence that resulted from those violations is inadmissible in court.
• Entrapment. If law enforcement induced you to commit a crime you wouldn’t have otherwise committed, that’s called entrapment. The key to this defense is to show inducement rather than opportunity.
• Duress. If you were forced to commit the crime by another party under the threat of immediate danger, you may be able to use that as a defense. For this defense to work, there must have been no other viable alternatives to committing the crime.

Meet Our Founding Attorney – Roonie Santana Ronnie Santana is the founding attorney at Santana Law PLLC,serving Minneapolis and surrounding areas with dedicated felony criminal defense representation. With extensive experience handling serious felony charges, he provides strategic, aggressive advocacy focused on protecting your rights, limiting exposure, and pursuing the best possible outcome. Ronnie’s client-first approach ensures every case receives personal attention and a strong defense. View Profile

FAQs

What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need for a Felony Charge in Minneapolis?

The kind of lawyer you need for a felony is a criminal defense attorney. You should specifically look for a criminal defense lawyer who has prior experience taking on felony cases, as they can be more serious and more complex than misdemeanors. Criminal defense lawyers with this kind of experience can advertise as felony lawyers.

How Much Should a Lawyer Cost for a Felony in Minneapolis?

How much a lawyer should cost for a felony varies depending on the specifics of your case. Each case is unique, and there’s no way to say how much it will cost to defend against your charges without knowing the details. Costs vary depending on case complexity, whether you go to trial, and your lawyer’s experience level.

Can a Lawyer Drop a Felony Charge in Minneapolis?

A lawyer may be able to drop a felony charge if they can prove that the prosecution doesn’t have grounds to charge you or the arresting officers violated your Constitutional rights, which can cause any evidence or admissions gathered after the violation to be inadmissible in court. A felony lawyer may also be able to get your felony dropped to a misdemeanor by coming up with an effective plea bargain.

What’s the Minimum Jail Time for a Felony in Minneapolis, MN?

The minimum jail time for a felony in Minneapolis is 12 months. However, sentencing guidelines vary depending not just on the type and severity of the crime you have committed but also on your criminal history. Regardless, Minnesota takes felonies very seriously, so you should seek the help of a felony lawyer as soon as you’ve been charged to minimize your chances of a long prison term.

Speak To Our Minneapolis Felony Lawyer

If you’re looking for a Minneapolis felony lawyer to help with your case, Santana Law, PLLC, can help. Founding attorney Ronnie Santana has years of experience, not just as a defense attorney but also as a prosecutor, so he knows the Twin Cities criminal justice system inside and out. He’s taken on plenty of tough felony cases and successfully fought for his clients’ rights both in court and in plea negotiations. Contact the firm to schedule a consultation today.

Minneapolis,MN Felony Legal Resources

• Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission
• Hennepin County District Court – Criminal Division
• Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure – Appendix of Forms
• Criminal Case FAQ – Hennepin County District Court

Our Minneapolis Criminal Defense Law Firm Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Ronnie was fantastic and got my legal resolved! I highly recommend him if you ever find yourself in a sticky situation. 10/10 service and he genuinely cares about his clients.” – Michael Vailes

About Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota and home to a diverse population, multiple universities, and a busy urban core. With more than 400,000 residents and thousands of commuters traveling in daily, the city sees a wide range of criminal charges—from DUI and drug-related offenses to assault, theft, and felony-level allegations. Criminal matters arising in Minneapolis are typically handled through the Hennepin County District Court, located downtown, with law enforcement actions led by the Minneapolis Police Department, Metro Transit Police, University of Minnesota Police, and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.

Because Minneapolis includes entertainment districts such as Downtown East, North Loop, Uptown, Dinkytown, and Stadium Village, the city frequently experiences arrests tied to nightlife-related incidents, disorderly conduct, traffic stops, and alcohol-related offenses. The city’s proximity to major highways—including I-94, I-35W, and Hwy 55—also contributes to an increase in traffic and vehicle-based criminal allegations such as reckless driving, DWI, and vehicle-related drug offenses.