Charley grew up in the Alexandria area. His strong family and community ties make Alexandria the ideal place for Charley to begin his legal career.

Charley graduated magna cum laude from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Legal Studies and Philosophy. He went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell in St. Paul, Minnesota, graduating cum laude.

While attending William Mitchell, Charley made numerous appearances in district court as a certified student attorney logging over 300 hours of courtroom experience. In addition, Charley is a qualified neutral mediator, arbitrator and family mediator under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice.

As a senior at Jefferson Senior High School Charley was instrumental in founding the Douglas County Teen Court program through an internship with the Douglas County Attorney's Office. Charley wrote grants, did research and organized the infrastructure of Douglas County Teen Court which has provided the Alexandria area with an effective diversion program for first time juvenile offenders since 2002.