Last week, this Kalamazoo criminal defense legal blog discussed criminal sexual conduct and how certain sex crime charges may arise to the level of felonies, depending on the conduct the defendant is alleged to have committed. Many factors can influence whether a charge is elevated to…

Under Michigan law, specific crimes, such as rape, sexual assault and sexual battery, are contained in the general category of criminal sexual conduct. There are different levels of criminal sexual conduct that the state recognizes, and some of those different levels rise to the level of…

In Michigan, there are several degrees of the crime of home invasion, and the punishments vary accordingly. A person commits first degree home invasion, when they enter a dwelling without the owner’s permission and with the intent to commit a felony, either while the defendant was…

A felony conviction in Michigan can not only lead to a long prison sentence, financially crippling fines, and damage to one’s reputation, but it can affect an individual’s ability to find and obtain housing, employment, and education. With so much on the line, Michiganders who are…

Most Michigan residents have been pulled over by the police at one time or another. The experience can be stressful and intimidating, even when the stop is for something minor, like a nonfunctioning taillight. For this reason, some individuals may be wary of stopping when instructed…

There are a number of types of felony charges in Michigan. Those who wind up facing any of these charges need to ensure that they adequately defend themselves, lest they be convicted and thereby forced to submit to strict penalties. In order to avoid what could…

Michigan residents who are arrested and charged with a crime often have a lot on their mind, and they may find themselves consumed by worry and fear. Although much of a person’s concern is centered on the outcome of the case as a whole, there may…

Michiganders who have knowledge of the criminal justice system know that felony offenses are treated more seriously than misdemeanors. Yet, not all felonies are created equal. A murder charge, for example, can carry much more significant penalties, and a prosecutor may pursue a conviction more aggressively…