Attorney Bio
Matthew is an experienced criminal defense lawyer that has appeared in courtrooms all over the State of Minnesota. From traffic tickets to serious felonies, Matthew has the experience and work ethic to fight for you and has been fighting for his clients since 2010. He is well-known in courtrooms throughout the Twin Cities, including Dakota County, Ramsey County, Scott County, Hennepin County, Washington County, and Anoka County. In addition to these counties, Matthew has had success throughout the State of Minnesota and enjoys his road trips to courthouses in all corners of Minnesota.
Matthew is a fourth-generation South St. Paul resident that knows how to roll up his sleeves and put in the work. He helped start his family’s lawn, snow & tree business and worked there through law school. While in law school, he worked three jobs, successfully completed a master’s degree, and received the Minnesota Justice Foundation’s “Law School Public Service Award.”
Following law school, Matthew worked with a judge in Ramsey County handling only criminal cases and has worked with top-rated criminal defense firms in St. Paul and Minneapolis. During this time, he developed an exceptional understanding of constitutional challenges and how the minds of jurors operate. Additionally, Matthew has worked as a Public Defender and has handled several pro bono cases for veterans and low-income clients. He takes the approach of working very hard on your case from the beginning so the prosecution knows he is serious about going to trial. The extra effort early on in a case has led to dismissals before getting to trial.
In his personal life, Matthew enjoys being a father, hunting and fishing, and volunteering with the South St. Paul Lion’s Club. http://ssplions.org/
Matthew is part of the law firm McDonough, Wagner & Ho, LLP, which was founded in 1984. This firm is deeply rooted in Dakota County and the firm is well respected throughout the greater Twin Cities.