Recent Posts in Criminal Charges Category

In Michigan, 18 year old Kyle Lee Vinson of Marine City was arraigned this week.  Vinson was charged with receiving stolen property and theft of services this past weekend.

According to local police, Vinson called Herring Motor Co. of Somerset Township because he was stranded on the Pennsylvania turnpike.  When an employee from the company arrived to help, Vinson said that he did not have the $90 owed for services that were performed.  He was also without identification.

At first, Vinson claimed that he was his stepfather, Kyle Lee Schram.  It was later discovered that the vehicle Vison was driving was owned by Schram and reported as stolen on June 15^th.

At this time, Vinson remains in Somerset County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail.  His hearing has been scheduled for a later date.

Have you been charged with a serious theft crime, such as auto theft?  If so, it is imperative that you obtain the services of a Michigan criminal defense lawyer.  Contact Freedman & Freedman to speak with a criminal defense attorney today!

Three men were arrested on various charges in Woodhaven after someone called police to report there were people smoking pot in their truck.

Police arrived at the scene with a drug sniffing dog, who was able to detect the scent of marijuana and confirm its presence in the vehicle. The officer was able to smell the marijuana as well, and upon searching the vehicle found marijuana seeds and crumbled leaves throughout the suspect’s truck.

A passenger in the vehicle was also arrested, but for disorderly conduct and obstruction after he refused to comply with the officer’s orders. According to the article on The News-Herald, the officer asked the passenger to step out of the vehicle and leave the scene, but he refused. The passenger became angry and refused to get out of the truck. After a profane outburst and refusing to leave the vehicle at least three times, the officer had the passenger arrested.

A third passenger was also arrested after it was discovered there was an arrest warrant out for a reckless driving charge.

A hockey coach has been charged with a misdemeanor count of  assault & battery after punching the opposing team’s coach during a brawl on the ice.

The incident began when the two coaches, one from Allen Park and one from Taylor, had a verbal confrontation. According to reports, the Allen Park coach told the Taylor coach that he was a bad coach and a poor sportsman. The Taylor coach then shoved the Allen Park coach onto the ice.

Moments later a large group of people rushed onto the ice and began fighting. When a referee tried to break up the fight and help the Allen Park coach off the ice, the Taylor coach jumped on top of the referee and began punching the Allen Park coach in the face repeatedly.

The Taylor coach was arrested and charged with assault & battery, but was later released after posting $300 bond.

Charged with assault & battery in Oakland or Wayne County? A  Michigan criminal defense lawyer at the Law Offices of Freedman & Freedman can ensure you have the aggressive and dedicated defense you need against your charges. To learn more about working with an experienced attorney at Freedman & Freedman, please  contact the office today by calling (877) 858-5297.

Three Pontiac teenagers could face life in prison after being charged with armed robbery.

The teens are accused of committing armed robbery in connection with two separate incidences that occurred early Friday morning.

According to police, Joey Steven Vang, 17, Rocky Herr, 17, and Jerry Herr, 18, approached a man as he pulled into an Auburn Hills parking lot around 3:45 a.m. Police said the teens were wearing masks and one was carrying a rifle. They ordered the man to get out of his vehicle and then assaulted him as he got out of the car. They took his money and cell phone before fleeing the scene in a truck.

An hour later, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office reported that a person had been robbed at gun point in Orion Township. The suspects were again wearing masks and were carrying an AK-47.

Police found the suspects in their vehicle around 4:30 a.m. They were taken into custody and booked for armed robbery. Their masks and weapons were recovered by police.

Have you been arrested or charged with a crime in Wayne or Oakland County, Michigan?  If so, it is important to have an idea of what you will face in the weeks and months ahead. 

The criminal process essentially begins the moment you are arrested, although sometimes an arrest does not amount to charges and prosecution.  If you are placed under arrest it is because the police have probable cause to believe that you committed a crime or that you were somehow involved in the commission of a crime.

After you are arrested you will be taken back to the police station and booked on criminal charges.  During the booking process you will be photographed, fingerprinted, searched, and asked a few questions.  It is important to remember that you can refrain from answering any questions until you have spoken with an attorney or your attorney is present.  If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, the state will appoint a public defender to your case.  However, there are benefits to hiring a private attorney.  To learn why, please visit our blog, “Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney Versus a Public Defender.”

After you have been booked, the district attorney prosecuting the case can either continue with the case or drop the charges.  If the charges are dropped your case ends there.  If the prosecutor files charges, you will be scheduled to appear at an arraignment, which usually occurs within 72 hours of your arrest.  At the arraignment you will enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.  If you plead guilty or no contest, the judge will impose a sentence then and there.  If you plead not guilty, the judge will schedule your next court appearance, as your case is now set for trial.  During the arraignment the judge will also set bail, refuse to set bail, or release you on your recognizance.

If you and your attorney do not reach a plea agreement with the prosecuting attorney, your case will move to trial.  A plea agreement is basically an arrangement made by the prosecutor and the defense attorney where the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for a lesser sentence or reduced penalties. During a trial, your case is heard before a judge and jury, and after reviewing evidence and testimony submitted by both the defense and the prosecution, the jury will determine whether you are guilty or not guilty of the charges.  In some cases, you might be able to request a bench trial, which means your case is only heard before a judge.

Should the jury find you not guilty, your case is dismissed and you are free to go about living your life.  If you are found guilty of the charges, the judge will then impose a sentence based on the crime.  You might be able to appeal the conviction as well.

When people are arrested for a crime, often times they are not familiar with their legal rights.  It is important for everyone to have an idea of what their legal and constitutional rights entail.  Although one never anticipates getting arrested, knowing your rights will be beneficial should you get arrested in the future.

The following is a list of some of your legal and constitutional rights:

• You have the right against unlawful searches and seizures.  This means that in order for the police to search you or your property, they must have a valid search warrant or probable cause. 
• You have the right to remain silent.  The gives you the right to refrain from speaking to the police or answering their questions until you have had the chance to speak with an attorney.  This right is especially important to take advantage of, as anything you say can be used against you in court.
• You have the right to an attorney.  All people charged with a crime have the right to an attorney.  If you cannot afford to hire a private criminal defense attorney, the state will appoint a public defender to your case.  You do have the option of representing yourself, however, this is not advisable.
• You have the right to be read your Miranda rights.  Once you are in police custody, you must be read your Miranda rights before you are interrogated.  These rights include:
  • The right to remain silent
  • The right to have an attorney present during questioning
  • The right to have an attorney appointed to you if you are unable to afford one
• You have the right to a speedy trial under the 6^th Amendment.  The 6^th Amendment states that you have the right to have a trial within a certain time frame after being charged with a crime, usually 180 days.  However, you can have this waived if your attorney needs more time to prepare your defense.
• You have several rights under the 5^th Amendment:
  • You have the right to remain silent in a criminal proceeding, if testifying would result in self incrimination (pleading the fifth).
  • You have the right to a grand jury.
  • You have the right not to be tried twice for the same crime (double jeopardy).
  • You have the right to due process

Many people are confused as to what the difference is between pleading no contest and pleading guilty. When a person pleads guilty to criminal charges, they are admitting guilt for the crime they have been accused of committing.  When a defendant pleads no contest, they are neither admitting nor denying they have committed a crime. 

When to Plead No Contest

There are times when pleading no contest will work to the defendant’s advantage.  For example, if a defendant could face a civil lawsuit, he or she may wish to plead no contest.  If they were to plead guilty to the charges, their admission could be used as evidence in a civil trial and hurt their chances of avoiding liability in a civil lawsuit.  A good example of where this situation would apply is if someone were charged with causing a DUI accident that resulted in death.  If the defendant were to plead guilty to the DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges, the victim’s family could use that admission as evidence against the defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit.