Minnesota Criminal Defense & Trial Attorney

Charles Gerlach provides criminal defense services throughout Minnesota. He is a former prosecutor with 25+ years of experience and has conducted over 120 jury trials. If you are facing criminal charges, contact us for a free consultation and ensure your rights are being protected.

About Charles Gerlach

Former prosecutor with over 25 years experience

Charles graduated with honors (magna cum laude) from William Mitchell College of Law in 1998. He has been a criminal trial lawyer ever since.

Charles is an experienced criminal lawyer serving greater Minnesota and the metro area. He brings 25 years of experience as a criminal prosecutor into the courtroom. Charles knows how prosecutors think, their goals and strategies, what they intend to do, and how they will attempt to do it. He knows their strengths and weaknesses. Charles’ experience as a veteran prosecutor gives his clients the advantage and helps obtain favorable results.

Charles tried cases in Hennepin and Stearns Counties. He has tried approximately 120 jury trials to completion and negotiated resolutions in thousands of others. He is an expert criminal litigator, having tried numerous murders, aggravated assaults, domestic violence crimes, vulnerable adult crimes, sexual assaults, child abuse cases, and weapons crimes.

Charles also has a decade of experience as a juvenile delinquency prosecutor. Charles is experienced in all offense levels and is familiar with juvenile delinquency and disposition procedures, including extended jurisdiction juvenile and adult certification matters. Charles has extensive background working with the courts, probation officers, and social workers in crafting just juvenile dispositions. He can help your child navigate the complex rules of Juvenile Court.

Areas of Practice

We handle all areas of criminal law including:

Criminal Vehicular Operation/Homicide

DWI/DUI

Aggravated Assaults

Sexual Assault

Murder

Child Abuse

- Malicious punishment
- Neglect & endangerment
- Assault
- Sexual Abuse

Domestic Violence

- Domestic assault
- Violations of orders for protection
- Harassment/restraining orders

Vulnerable Adult Crimes

All Felonies & Misdemeanors

Weapons Offenses

- Felon in possession of a firearm
- Negligent storage of a firearm
- Reckless discharge
- Mandatory minimums

Juvenile Court

- Delinquency
- Extended Jurisdiction Juvenile
- Adult Certification

Gerlach Law serves the following counties

Anoka
Benton
Chisago
Hennepin
Isanti
Ramsey
Sherburne
Stearns
Washington
Wright

We Take pride in representing

LGBTQI+

Charles has experience and passion for working with people in the LGBTQI+ community.

Mental Health Issues

We also work with those who suffer from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and other diagnoses affecting clients’ abilities to function comfortably in society. We bring compassionate representation to seek the best possible resolution.

Trial Advocacy for Attorneys

Consulting and Training for Your Law Firm

Charles is an experienced trainer and trial advocacy presenter. He can bring his experience and training skills to your firm. He is an expert in case analysis, preparation and planning, opening statements, designing a direct examination, cross-examination, including cross-examination of experts, and closing arguments.

He has taught trial advocacy for over 15 years. Charles inaugurated the Minnesota District Attorneys Association’s Trial Advocacy Course and taught for the MCAA for over a decade. Charles taught trial advocacy with the National District Attorney’s Association, the Minnesota County Attorney’s Association, and Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He was also an advisory board member of the Minnesota Sex Crimes Investigators Association.

The National District Attorneys Association in Columbia, South Carolina, trained Charles as a faculty member. He is also in the process of earning a Professional Train the Trainer Certificate from the University of Minnesota. Charles can bring the important concepts of adult learning to your firm’s leadership team.