While you might not necessarily want the three issues mentioned in the title of this post to be applicable to your current life events, it’s a fact that many Minnesota college students become entangled in situations they were not expecting when they arrived on campus. Certain things, including alcohol, can spur you to act outside the norms of your usual behavior. It’s important to know where to seek criminal defense support if your college night out with friends goes awry and the police arrest you after a bar fight.
Many college students say they were minding their own business in a bar when one or more individuals started trouble. Perhaps you can relate to that. Maybe someone insulted or threatened your date or picked a fight because of something you said in passing. Before you realized what was happening, people threw punches and violence began to escalate. The next thing you knew, you were sitting handcuffed in the back of a police car.
Facing criminal charges in college after a bar fight
Even when a bar fight occurs off-campus, getting arrested and facing criminal charges can have an immediate and far-reaching negative effect on your college career. You might lose scholarship funds. School administrators might decide to suspend you or expel you. If you’re allowed to stay in school, your grades might suffer from having to miss classes while attending legal appointments. The following list shows various charges you might incur after a bar fight:
- Disorderly conduct
- Disturbing the peace
- Public intoxication
- Assault
- Aggravated battery
- Manslaughter
The last charge listed would be a worst-case scenario; however, there have been many bar fights that have resulted in fatalities. Any of these charges can have adverse implications on your college career.
Support is available in Minnesota for college students facing criminal charges
Every state has its own laws regarding criminal charges stemming from bar fights. Your best bet is to build a strong support network from the start, which may include calling your parents, talking to your school guidance counselor and connecting with an experienced legal team who can represent you in court.
In fact, a Minnesota attorney is often able to keep a case from going to trial, especially if extenuating issues apply in a case, such as violation of a person’s Fourth Amendment rights or lack of evidence. Refuting criminal charges doesn’t guarantee that the judge will not issue a conviction. However, having a competent attorney by one’s side throughout proceedings helps increase the chances of obtaining a positive outcome.
