Obstructing Legal Process
The crime of Obstructing Legal Process, like Disorderly Conduct, is a crime that may apply to a broad range of conduct. Obstructing Legal Process is defined in several ways, and may be a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony depending on the circumstances alleged. The most common type of Obstructing Legal Process crime we see in our practice is the misdemeanor crime of Obstructing Legal Process. Attorneys David Lundgren and Adam Johnson have successfully represented many defendants charged with this crime.
The relevant statutory citation for the crime of Obstructing Legal Process is Minnesota Statutes Section 609.50. The various types of Obstructing Legal Process crimes are defined as follows.
- Obstructing, hindering, or preventing the lawful execution of any legal process, civil or criminal, or apprehension of another on a charge or conviction of a criminal offense.
- Obstructing, resisting, or interfering with a peace officer while the officer is engaged in the performance of official duties (most common).
- Interfering with or obstructing a firefighter while the firefighter is engaged in the performance of official duties.
- Interfering with or obstructing a member of an ambulance service personnel crew who is providing, or attempting to provide, emergency care.
- By force or threat of force, endeavoring to obstruct any employee of the Department of Revenue while the employee is lawfully engaged in the performance of official duties for the purpose of deterring or interfering with the performance of those duties.
MISDEMEANOR OBSTRUCTING LEGAL PROCESS
If a person commits any of the above acts, the person may be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.
GROSS MISDEMEANOR OBSTRUCTING LEGAL PROCESS
If a person commits any of the above acts and the act was accompanied by force or violence or the threat thereof, the person may be charged with a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both.
FELONY OBSTRUCTING LEGAL PROCESS
If a person commits any of the above acts and the person knew or had reason to know that the act created a risk of death, substantial bodily harm, or serious property damage, or the act in fact caused death, substantial bodily harm, or serious property damage, the person may charged with a felony, punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both.
The most common form of Obstructing Legal Process crime our attorneys see is the misdemeanor level offense. Frequently, police officers will charge a person by citation with this crime if the person lies to them or otherwise interferes with their official duties. There are a number of defenses available to a defendant charged with the crime of Obstructing Legal Process.
IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF A ZEALOUS DEFENSE AGAINST THE CRIME OF OBSTRUCTING LEGAL PROCESS, CONTACT US FOR A NO-COST CONSULTATION TODAY.