Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog | Grand Rapids Criminal Defense Attorney

160 pounds of marijuana found during traffic stop in Michigan

On behalf of Willis Law posted in Drug Crimes on Monday, May 20, 2013.

Charges related to drug possession, manufacturing and trafficking are taken very seriously by law enforcement and prosecutors in Michigan. Authorities are determined to convict a person involved in criminal drug behaviors and often use their extensive resources to pursue convictions. This is why it is so important for a person who is facing charges of drug crimes in Michigan to also take the situation very seriously and work with a defense attorney throughout the process.

Often times, an arrest for drug-related crimes stems from something as simple and routine as a traffic stop. However, police look for any sign of suspicious behavior so that they can search a person's car, where they hope to uncover unlawful drugs. If this happens, police officers can stack up charges against a person and increase the possibility that he or she will eventually plead guilty to at least one charge.

Proposed bill in Michigan expands eligibility for expungement

On behalf of Willis Law posted in Misdemeanors and Felonies on Friday, May 17, 2013.

Did you know that reports indicate that 1 in 4 Americans have a criminal record? This translates into millions of people who are having trouble finding jobs, getting an education or receiving training. These challenges can be very real obstacles for people who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in Michigan.

This can be very upsetting. People all across this state have paid their dues and served their time for some bad choices only to be released into a community where it is nearly impossible for them to lead a productive life because of a mark on their criminal record. As it stands right now, only a small group of people have been able to have their criminal records cleared, or expunged. However, a proposed bill is looking to change this.

New breath test device may be able to detect drugs as well

On behalf of Willis Law posted in OWI/OWVI on Monday, May 13, 2013.

Being pulled over by a police officer can be a very frightening experience. For many drivers in Michigan, a simple roadside stop can quickly spiral into criminal charges in the blink of an eye. What starts as a citation for something as minor as forgetting to use a turn signal can turn into an arrest for suspicion of drugged or drunk driving.

During an otherwise routine traffic stop, an officer may feel that he or she has reason to suspect that a driver is impaired and conduct field sobriety tests or a Breathalyzer test. Generally, these tests are used to detect alcohol concentration in a person's system, but a new breath test device has been developed in Sweden which would also detect drugs in a person's system. But how accurate can a breath test be in detecting drug use?

Report: People facing assault charges often victims of abuse

On behalf of Willis Law posted in Domestic Violence and Assault on Monday, May 6, 2013.

One of the most complex and emotional criminal struggles that a person can face is one that involves allegations of domestic assault. Each case in this category is unique and the people involved may have a very close relationship with one another that is emotionally complicated. At times, this can make it difficult to figure out who is telling the truth. In many domestic assault cases in Michigan, it all comes down to one person's word against the others.

The challenges that people face when charged with domestic assault are many. From explaining themselves to an officer to defending themselves in court, people who are accused of domestic assault often feel as though they cannot get a fair shake with law enforcement and prosecutors. This may be especially true for people charged with assault after a situation in which they were defending themselves against someone else.

Michigan woman pleads guilty to misappropriation of funds

On behalf of Willis Law posted in White Collar Crimes on Friday, May 3, 2013.

During times of financial struggle, some people find themselves in desperate situations. In general, people work their way through this time, but other people take a more risky approach to alleviating money troubles. Sometimes, people made a bad decision and get involved in unlawfully acquiring money from an unsuspecting party. Many of us have read these stories in the news and very often, the people we read about end up facing charges related white collar crime.

Often, the person involved in this situation is not some high-powered corporate employee with access to millions of dollars. It could very well be a person we see every day. It could be a neighbor, a single parent or a friendly co-worker. The point is that average people with no history of criminal behavior can find themselves in a situation where they make a mistake.

88-year-old man facing drug charges in Michigan

On behalf of Willis Law posted in Drug Crimes on Monday, April 29, 2013.

We have posted about young kids who get into some serious trouble on this blog numerous times. It is not uncommon to read stories in the news about teens and students who make a mistake and end up dealing with the consequences of a bad decision for many years. However, people of all ages and backgrounds can get caught up in illegal activity and wind up facing criminal charges for drug crimes in Michigan.

But it is important for people who have been arrested to remember that they still the right to defend themselves against criminal charges. It is essential that a person gets a fair trial and is not unfairly punished for any questionable behavior. For instance, an 88-year-old man was recently arrested for suspected criminal drug transportation. Is it fair to put him through several months of waiting for a trial? Is jail time appropriate if he is convicted?

Police: Vandalism of Michigan statue is destruction of property

On behalf of Willis Law posted in Misdemeanors and Felonies on Friday, April 26, 2013.

When young people are in college, many of them end up making some mistakes that they wish they could take back. Unfortunately, some of these mistakes can follow a person around for years in the form of a criminal record. Most people would not want to be defined as an adult by the poor decisions they made as a student, which is why it can be crucial for a young person to work with an attorney if he or she is facing criminal charges.

The person or people who recently vandalized a Michigan State University statue, for example, may find themselves in need of legal representation. While campus police have yet to identify any suspects in the stunt, they are reportedly taking the situation very seriously. In previous cases involving the defacing of the well-known statue, prosecutors have charged people with malicious destruction of property.

Boat operators face changing OWI limits in Michigan

On behalf of Willis Law posted in OWI/OWVI on Monday, April 22, 2013.

For many people in Michigan, there is nothing more enjoyable than relaxing and spending a day or two out on the water in a boat. While it may not exactly seem like it, summer is just around the corner. With the promise of warm weather and longer days, many folks are getting excited to get their boats out of storage and onto the lakes. However, Michigan residents should be aware that some boating laws may be changing.

Boaters in Michigan are expected to operate their boats safely, but they are not necessarily expected to follow the same rigid rules that apply to motorists on a road. For example, there are wake restrictions, life jacket requirements and proper lighting rules for boaters, but the laws for watercraft are generally a little bit different than laws for motor vehicles. This is currently the case for blood alcohol levels as well, but recent legislation has been introduced that would make the blood alcohol limits for both boaters and drivers the same in Michigan.

Michigan man charged with domestic assault undergoing therapy

On behalf of Willis Law posted in Domestic Violence and Assault on Friday, April 19, 2013.

Charges that are related to domestic violence should be taken very seriously by people faced with the allegations. Often times, situations that end with police and arrests have started as simply an argument between spouses, family members, roommates or people in dating relationships. But even if an alleged victim withdraws a complaint, convictions for domestic assault are still aggressively pursued.

One of the reasons that these allegations are taken so seriously is that there are some situations in which a person may be a danger to themselves or others. But rather than automatically convict someone for these charges and throw them in jail, there are many cases that may not warrant that level of punishment. And in other cases, a person may need counseling or psychiatric treatment rather than jail time.

Longer prison sentences do little to deter drug crime in Michigan

On behalf of Willis Law posted in Drug Crimes on Monday, April 15, 2013.

Authorities and politicians have long been focused on "being tough on crime." Despite promises and legislative actions aimed at decreasing crime rates in Michigan, however, many of these efforts have been misguided and ineffective. In fact, reports indicate that increasing jail sentences for nonviolent drug crimes has little or no effect on improving public safety or deterring repeat offenses.

Michigan prisons house drug offenders for an average of 2.9 years, which is longer than the national average of 2.2 years. These lengthier sentences have not exactly had the desired effect on drug crime rates and they have come at a significant cost to Michigan residents.