My question involves criminal law for the state of: Minnesota.
Long, complicated story, but I'll try to be as concise as possible...
My boyfriend, while we were both drinking, accidentally threw a glass into my face, which shattered and caused multiple cuts to my face, requiring stitches.
He ran off to WI before the police came, and three weeks later they served him a summons via postal mail to my address (he had changed his address with the post office only a day or two before, as he didn't have an address until then), charging him with Gross Misdemeanor Assault. At that point I had not heard from him, so I put the summons back in the mail marked "Please Forward."
He received it the day of his court date, so of course he missed it. He had just been to court in MN the day before for a (first) DUI, and was sentenced to probation.
He was NEVER informed of the charges, court date, etc by anyone at any time, with the exception of the letter I forwarded.
I did not ask for charges to be pressed, that was done by the (?) prosecutor.
Timeline of events: "Assault" occured April 2, Court date for DUI May 19, court date for assault May 20.
Here's what I would like to know:
1. Is there any way I can intervene to get the charges dropped?
2. Will he be just completely screwed for missing court since he's on probation for the DUI? Or can he avoid additional punishment due to the lack of notification/change in address?
3. Is there any possibility that sentencing for the assault could be in the form of in/out patient treatment/rehab for his drinking?
4. What is the least possible sentence he could get, and what would have to happen for him to get it? He does have one prior, a 5th degree domestic assault, also against me, from 2003.
Thank you in advance. I do not want opinions or judgments; please just address the legal aspects. Also, it is in no way financially possible for him (or me) to afford a private attorney. He is unemployed, and I just lost one of my two jobs. No savings, no credit cards, no family to borrow from - nothing.

