Criminal Vehicular Operation Conviction Expungement Granted!
Last week, Attorney Robert Ambrose obtained an expungement on a criminal vehicular operation (CVO) conviction. Notably, this was neither an expungement that resolved in favor of his client, nor was it supported by the prosecution. Despite the prosecution’s objection, the district court judge granted a full statutory expungement of CVO conviction.
Attorney Ambrose’s client deserves much of the credit. He successfully completed his probation, which reduced his sentence to a misdemeanor under a stay of imposition. The matter was over ten years old and he did not pick up any significant criminal charges since the incident. He had strong family support. He also endured significant hardships relating to finding employment.
Interestingly, the prosecution noted how well Attorney Ambrose’s client rehabilitated himself. But, their office objected to the expungement arguing that it was not eligible for statutory expungement. They believed it was not eligible because CVO is not listed as one of the 53 felonies eligible for expungement. While true, our client was going for a statutory expungement because his felony conviction turned into a misdemeanor from a stay of imposition after he successfully completed probation. This recent law change allowed us to move for a full statutory expungement under Minnesota Statutes section 609A.02, subdivision 3(a)(7)(ii). Given an opportunity at the hearing to back down from their position on this issue, the prosecution did not. Thankfully, the judge agreed with our interpretation of the law and determined we met our burden for expungement.
One of the most rewarding moments is telling someone their expungement was granted. Breaking the news to the client in this case was one of those. He suffered long enough for something he did when he was very young. Knowing a CVO will be expunged from his record gave him and his family great joy.
To discuss your chances of expungement, please call or text us at 612-547-3199 or email: ambroselegal@icloud.com
Robert H. Ambrose is a criminal defense attorney and expungement lawyer in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Super Lawyers named him a Super Lawyer for the past four years and a Rising Star for six years prior. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Law School. CVO Attorney Minneapolis MN, Criminal Defense Attorney Wisconsin, Expungement Lawyer Minnesota.