Ryan Pacyga Criminal Defense Case Studies

He Wasn’t Just My Lawyer. He Was a Turning Point.

(Client name and some details changed to protect privacy.) On the surface, his life looks steady: skilled trade, steady job, people who care about him. Underneath, alcohol, conflict and a volatile relationship had dragged him into one of the hardest years of his life and into the criminal justice system. This is his story of […]

A 0.10 Urine Test… And a Not Guilty DWI Verdict

You’re standing where Jeffrey once stood (name changed to protect our client’s privacy): facing a DWI charge, worried that a test result over .08 means your life is basically over. It doesn’t. This is the story of how a Dakota County jury cleared a man whose urine test came back at 0.10—and why that matters […]

Why Legal Research and Writing Can Change the Outcome of Your Criminal Case

When someone you love is facing a serious criminal charge, you see the court dates. You hear about hearings. You might even sit in the courtroom and watch your lawyer and the prosecutor talk to the judge for a few minutes. What you don’t see is often what matters most. Behind every good […]

Born for the Storm: Pat’s Journey to Not Guilty and a New Life

•Names have been changed to protect privacy. When the phone call came, Pat* was on a trip out East with his son. A police officer had stopped by his home and left a message to call back. Soon after, he was served. A no-contact order. A criminal complaint – Criminal Sexual Conduct. Pages of allegations […]

Ian’s Story of Hitting Bottom, Choosing Honesty, and the Attorney Who Helped

“My advice? Find someone who has the life you want and stop talking—start listening.” Ian remembers the exact date his old life ended: September 29, 2023. Married with three young kids, the CEO of a successful company, a volunteer firefighter, and a church council member—he had perfected the art of switching personas, one polished role […]

Ryan Pacyga & Marie Pacyga

Two for One: The Power of Hiring Two Criminal Defense Attorneys

When you are facing criminal charges, you want the strongest defense possible. At Pacyga Trial Lawyers, clients do not just get one attorney. They get two criminal defense attorneys. Ryan and Marie Pacyga bring their combined strengths and perspectives to every case, giving clients an edge that most law firms cannot offer. Two Criminal Defense […]

“The Number I Never Wanted to Call”: A Mother’s Story

Carrie* remembers the exact sound of the recording. “You have a call from the county jail…” In the beat before her son’s voice came through, a thousand fears crowded in—car wrecks, a fight, the kinds of emergencies parents brace for but hope never arrive. What followed was worse than anything she had imagined: her 21-year-old […]

Hank’s Journey – A Veteran’s Second Chance

When Hank, a Marine Corps veteran, found himself charged with crimes that could have sent him to prison for decades, his world collapsed. Struggling with PTSD, Hank had an episode that left him facing two counts of attempted murder and firing a weapon into a crowd. He spent a year and a half in jail […]

Finding Hope and a Way Forward: Larry’s Story

When Larry first met Marie Pacyga, he was facing some of the hardest seasons of his life. Addiction, health struggles, and new criminal charges left him feeling trapped in a system he had been tangled in for nearly 20 years. He was scared, overwhelmed, and unsure if there was any way forward. That’s when Marie […]

From Accused to Empowered: A Story of Legal Defense and Personal Redemption

How One Man Found His Strength with Ryan Pacyga by His Side Right before Christmas, Christian* showed up to his government job as usual. Within hours, he was placed on administrative leave, had his personal possessions confiscated. He had no warning, no explanation, and no idea that his life was about to be flipped upside […]

“He Didn’t Just Defend Me. He Saw Me.” — David’s Story of Trusting Ryan Pacyga

When David first learned he was being charged with a crime, he was overwhelmed. So, like many others, he turned to Ryan Pacyga. “I was in a panic,” he recalls. “I’d never been through anything like this. It felt like my world was spinning.” Like many people, David turned to the internet in search of […]

Case Study - First-Degree Murder

Not Guilty: A Closer Look at Premeditation and a Double First-Degree Murder Acquittal

When most people hear “first-degree murder,” they know it’s serious—but what exactly does it mean, especially in Minnesota? Hi, I’m Ryan Pacyga, criminal defense attorney, and I recently represented a client facing not one, but two counts of first-degree murder. It was the most serious case I’ve ever tried, and I’m grateful to share that […]

Marijuana Cultivation

Beating a Felony Under Minnesota’s Marijuana Laws

In 2023, Minnesota legalized recreational marijuana, joining a growing number of states reforming cannabis-related laws. But while legalization has opened the door to personal use and limited home cultivation, new regulations around marijuana possession, growth, and distribution are still being tested in real time—and so are the people navigating them. At Pacyga Trial Lawyers, we […]

federal conspiracy

Overcoming Federal Conspiracy Charges with Strategy

Background A young man found himself in the midst of a federal conspiracy case, facing charges that carried a mandatory 10-year prison sentence. He was indicted in U.S. District Court for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including LSD, methamphetamine, and marijuana. The federal investigation uncovered evidence of large-scale drug transactions, the use of social media […]

Healthcare Fraud

Healthcare Fraud Reduced: Texas Doctor Case Study

A complex healthcare fraud scheme involving millions of dollars put a Texas-based doctor under federal investigation.

dwi breath test

DWI Case Study: Officer Error and Dismissal

As a criminal defense attorney, I often encounter cases where the evidence appears strong on the surface, only to reveal hidden issues upon closer scrutiny.

First-degree assault with a deadly weapon

Second-Degree Assault with a Deadly Weapon Case Study

In 2023, Ryan Pacyga, an experienced Minnesota criminal defense attorney, took on the case of W.C., a military veteran charged with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon.

DWI with unique circumstances & defense

DWI with Unique Circumstances: Defense in Minnesota

Understanding DWI with Unique Circumstances In this pivotal case, a wife found herself in a dangerous situation after an argument with her husband turned violent while they were camping in a remote area. After walking back from a nearby tavern, the husband assaulted her, taking her phone and leaving her with no means of communication […]

DWI Test Refusal

DWI Test Refusal Case Study: Charge Reduction

Understanding DWI Test Refusal in Minnesota” (assuming you’re focusing on Minnesota law) In 2023, Marie Pacyga, a skilled Minnesota DWI defense attorney, represented K.M., who was initially charged with third-degree DWI test refusal. The case was further complicated by the fact that the prosecution waited nearly the entire statute of limitations period before filing charges, […]

strangulation and assault

Strangulation and Assault Case Study: Denial of Restitution

Understanding Strangulation and its Impact in Assault Cases S.P. was charged with strangulation and assault in Dakota County. Although the charges of strangulation and assault were serious, defense attorney Ryan Pacyga successfully negotiated the dismissal of all charges related to the alleged victim. Despite the dismissal, the State filed a motion seeking restitution of approximately […]

malicious punishment of a child

Malicious Punishment of a Child Case Study: Dismissal

Background In 2014, M.G. was charged with Malicious Punishment of a Child under Minnesota Statute 609.377, following allegations that surfaced after he became the mother’s new boyfriend. The accusations placed M.G. in a difficult position, as child abuse charges carry severe legal and personal consequences. M.G. maintained his innocence, asserting that the allegations were false […]

Prostitution Charges Acquitted: A Case Study

In 2014, the St. Paul Police Department conducted a reverse sting operation targeting individuals seeking illicit services. As part of the sting, a female undercover officer posed as a prostitute, placing a fake ad on the internet for an illicit massage.

DWI and drug probation violation

Probation Violation Dismissed: DWI & Drug Case Study

J.A. faced a probation violation in Dakota County after being charged with a new DWI and drug offense while on probation for a prior DWI conviction. Admitting to the violation, J.A. was at risk of significant penalties, including a 30-day jail sentence proposed by both the probation agent and the prosecutor.

harassing phone calls

Harassing Phone Calls Case Study: Creative Resolution

In 2016, T.H., a licensed professional, was charged with making harassing phone calls after a personal friendship went sour. The situation escalated when the other party threatened to contact T.H.’s spouse, prompting T.H. to leave several harassing voicemails.

Victories

State v. Luskey
DWI
NOT GUILTY

State v. Crist
Presence at Unlawful Assembly
Interference with pedestrian or vehicular traffic
DISMISSED

State v. Vodenka
DWI (2 Counts)
DISMISSED

State v. Peterson
Assault-5^th Degree
Domestic Assault
Disorderly Conduct
DISMISSED

State v. Craig
Order for Protection Violation
NOT GUILTY

Peters v. Commissioner
Implied Consent
REVOCATION RESCINDED

State v. Tovo
Domestic Assault (3 Counts)
Malicious Punishment of a Child
DISMISSED

State v. Hinton v. Commissioner DWI
DISMISSED
Implied Consent
REVOCATION RESCINDED

State v. Thompson
Driving While Under the Influence
NOT GUILTY

State v. Bell
DWI
NOT GUILTY

Wisconsin v. Skrypek
Operate Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated
DISMISSED

State v. Young
DWI (2 Counts)
NOT GUILTY

State v. Mauti
2^nd Degree Domestic Assault
DISMISSED

State v. Clement
Malicious Punishment of a Child
DISMISSED

State v. Cook
Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test
NOT GUILTY

State v. Williams
Terroristic Threats
NOT GUILTY

State v. Hamilton
Domestic Assault
NOT GUILTY

State v. Dean
Criminal Substance-1^st Degree Sale
Criminal Substance-1^st Degree Possession
DISMISSED

State v. Campbell
Disorderly Conduct (2 Counts)
DISMISSED

State v. Greenhill
Domestic Assault (2 Counts)
DISMISSED

State v. Campbell
Criminal Damage to Property
DISMISSED

State v. Easley
Receive/Possess Firearm with Obliterated Serial Number
NOT GUILTY

State v. Picha
DWI
Driving After Suspension
DISMISSED

State v. Anderson
DWI-4^th Degree (2 Counts)
DISMISSED

State v. Proctor
Drugs-5^th Degree (2 Counts)
DWI-Drugs
DISMISSED

State v. Ibsen
Criminal Sexual Conduct
NOT GUILTY

State v. Bailey
Obstruct Legal Process
Domestic Assault
5^th Degree Assault
DISMISSED

State v. Blair
2^nd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
4^th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
5^th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
STAY OF ADJUDICATION / DISMISSED

State v. Benedix
Domestic Assault
DISMISSED

State v. Chesnut
DANCO Violation
DISMISSED

State v. Aguilar
Domestic Assault (2 Counts)
DISMISSED

State v. Gilbertson
Criminal Sexual Conduct
NOT GUILTY

State v. Alvarez
Theft
DISMISSED

State v. Austin
3rd Degree DWI
Open Bottle Law
Failure to Stop for Stop Sign
DISMISSED

State v. Edmondson
1^st Degree Murder (2 Counts)
2nd Degree Murder (2 Counts)
NOT GUILTY

State v. Cleveland
Malicious Punishment of a Child
DISMISSED

State v. Palecek
3^rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
4^th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
5^th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
DISMISSED

State v. Regel
Duty to Drive with Due Care
DISMISSED

Wisconsin v. Pope
2nd Degree Sexual Assault
Strangulation and Suffocation
Physical Abuse of Child
False Imprisonment
DISMISSED

State v. McCormick
Assault-3rd Degree
Interference with Emergency Phone Call
Disorderly Conduct
DISMISSED

State v. Chase
Damage to Property-1^st Degree
DISMISSED

State v. Conway
Deprive Another Parental Rights-Conceal Minor
DISMISSED

State v. Picard
Predatory Offender – fails to fulfill registration requirement
Uninsured Vehicle
Vehicle Registration – Unregistered
DISMISSED

Olmstead v. Commissioner
Implied Consent
REVOCATION RESCINDED

Aubin v. Commissioner
Implied Consent
REVOCATION RESCINDED

State v. Dubad
Identity Theft
Card Fraud
Tamper with Motor Vehicle
DISMISSED

State v. Suchanek
Indecent Exposure
DISMISSED