Detroit Criminal Defense Lawyer

Sex Crimes

Sex crimes typically involve illegal, forced, or unwanted sexual contact with another person. Some examples of sex crimes include rape, statutory rape, sexual assault, internet sex crimes, indecent exposure, prostitution, and stalking. Depending on the nature of the crime, criminal sexual conduct can be charged in the first, second, third, or fourth degree. The stakes are high in sex crime cases because a conviction likely means that you would need to register as a sex offender in both state and federal sex offender registries. In every Michigan criminal case, however, the burden of proof is on the state. It is required to prove every element of the crime being charged beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that a criminal defense lawyer in the Detroit area often can find multiple ways to challenge a sex charge. Perhaps the alleged victim is not a credible witness or has an improper motive, or perhaps they consented to the conduct, for example.

Violent Crimes

We defend individuals charged with all types of violent crimes, including assault, battery, domestic violence, and even homicide. People convicted of violent crimes may face high fines, a lengthy jail or prison sentence, and other serious consequences. Depending on the circumstances, a minor may be charged as an adult in some of these cases. Some common strategies in these cases include arguing that the defendant acted in self-defense, that they have an alibi, or that they lacked the intent required by the charge.

Fraud

Fraud is an umbrella term covering a wide range of criminal offenses. In essence, fraud involves theft or attempted theft through misrepresentation or deception. It is a financially motivated, nonviolent crime that can take many forms, such as mail fraud, wire fraud, forgery, identity theft, auto insurance fraud, workers’ compensation fraud, securities fraud, or corporate fraud. Just because you have been charged with fraud does not mean that you are guilty. A Detroit criminal defense attorney may be able to argue, for example, that you had no intent to defraud or that the charge is based on inaccurate information.

Domestic Violence and Assault

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior that involves emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, typically committed against a spouse, partner, or family member. A domestic violence conviction may result in serious criminal penalties. Domestic violence can take many forms, including stalking, threatening, hitting, kicking, shoving, or psychological abuse. As with other violent crimes, self-defense is often a strategy to explore, as are issues like the accuser’s motivations and credibility. These cases may come down to whether the accuser or the defendant tells a more persuasive account of events.

Drug Crimes

Drug charges should not be taken lightly. As a criminal defense attorney serving the Detroit area, I have handled all types of drug charges, including drug possession, offenses involving the possession or sale of prescription drugs, drug trafficking, and drug manufacturing. The penalties for drug crimes vary depending on the specific nature of the crime committed and the type of substance involved. The way that police collect drugs in a case is very important. The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects a person’s right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures by the police. Thus, if the drug charges against you arose from an improper search or seizure, the evidence may be inadmissible in court, leading to the dismissal of the charges.

Weapons Crimes

Like most states, Michigan takes weapons offenses very seriously. Common examples of weapons-related charges include felony firearm possession, carrying an unlicensed firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of illegal weapons, unlawful sale of a weapon, and assault with a deadly weapon. There are many reasons why people may end up in possession of a weapon that may not be immediately obvious to law enforcement. We can examine your case and evaluate which defenses may be applicable.

Computer Crimes

Computer crimes (cyber crimes) are increasingly common in Michigan and throughout the United States. This term is broad and encompasses a variety of offenses, including financial crimes, child pornography, identity theft, internet sex crimes, computer hacking, internet scans, and the destruction of a computer system. As mentioned earlier, the Fourth Amendment safeguards the right of citizens to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. If law enforcement obtained information from your computer or hard drive illegally, a criminal defense lawyer in Detroit will make every effort to have the improperly seized evidence suppressed.

Juvenile Crimes

In Michigan, if you are under the age of 17 and commit a crime, you could be the subject of a “delinquency action.” Common juvenile offenses include underage drinking, driving while intoxicated, sexting, criminal sexual conduct, or malicious destruction of property. It is important to be aware that criminal penalties for delinquent acts can be extremely serious. One common challenge in these cases is keeping the child’s charges from entering adult court. For serious crimes committed by minors who are 14 years of age or older, the court has discretion to enter the case into adult court. Being tried as an adult can have life-long consequences for your future, so this is a battle that is critical for your Detroit criminal defense lawyer to win.

DWI / OWI

The basic offense of driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Michigan consists of operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher. Whether a DWI is a misdemeanor or a felony in Michigan depends on the circumstances of the arrest. A first or second DWI conviction in the state is a misdemeanor offense unless the DWI involves an accident that causes serious bodily injury or death, in which case it would be charged as a felony. In addition, a third or subsequent DWI within seven years would be classified as a felony. We are ready to help you fight felony charges arising from alleged drunk driving.

Consult a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Detroit When Fighting Charges

If you or a loved one has been arrested, has been charged with a crime, or is being investigated for a crime, you should seek the guidance of a skilled attorney. I firmly believe in providing personalized attention to each and every client. My firm proudly represents people throughout Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne Counties, as well as the surrounding areas. For a free consultation with a criminal defense attorney, call or text me at (248) 310-3399 or contact us online.