Chesterfield Township Violent Crimes Attorney

An arrest for assault, domestic violence, armed robbery, or any crime against a person can erupt without warning: a 911 call after a heated argument, a bar fight that escalates, or a misunderstanding caught on a cell-phone video. You can instantly face felony charges, a high cash bond, no-contact orders, media scrutiny, and the potential for years behind bars. If charged, contact our experienced Chesterfield Township violent crimes attorneys for a free, confidential consultation right away.

Because prosecutors, judges, and the public have zero tolerance for allegations of violent crime, you need defense counsel who knows every avenue to defend your life, from self-defense to mistaken identity, and who can navigate Macomb County’s toughest courtrooms. Grabel & Associates brings two decades of statewide trial success in criminal defense in Chesterfield Township that we can use to protect your freedom, reputation, and future.

Court Procedures for Violent Crime Cases in Chesterfield Township

Every violent crime case that begins in Chesterfield Township enters the 42 2 District Court in New Baltimore for arraignment and (for felonies) preliminary examination. Once probable cause is found, felony cases move to the Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens for trial and sentencing. Our attorneys appear in both courts weekly and have a hands-on knowledge of

• which judges require cash surety on domestic-violence bonds,
• how each assistant prosecutor values plea reductions on aggravated-assault counts, and
• The probation department’s guidelines for anger-management programs versus jail recommendations.

That knowledge translates into a strategic advantage the moment we file an appearance.

Understanding Assault Charges in Michigan: Why Intent Is Critical

The difference between a misdemeanor and life in prison often turns on your intent. Prosecutors must establish that contact occurred and what you meant to do. We dismantle the prosecution’s theory by examining the following:

• Self-Defense and Defense of Others: Under MCL 780.972, Michigan’s “Stand Your Ground” law, a person may use proportional force when honestly and reasonably fearing imminent harm. Surveillance videos, 911 audio, emergency room triage notes, and eyewitness inconsistencies often corroborate your justification for using force.
• Mutual Combat: Bar fights frequently involve two consenting participants. When evidence shows both sides willingly engaged, juries hesitate to convict one party as the sole aggressor.
• Heat of Passion or Provocation: A sudden assault after extreme provocation can reduce an intent-to-murder charge to voluntary manslaughter, cutting your maximum exposure from life in prison to 15 years.
• Lack of Specific Intent: Painkillers, alcohol blackout, or a traumatic brain injury may preclude the mental state required for assault with intent to commit significant bodily harm or intent to murder counts. Additionally, medical experts can testify to dissociation or diminished capacity.

Early Legal Defense Strategies After a Violent Crime Arrest

Early Bond Intervention. Within 24 hours of arrest, you stand before a district court judge who will set bond terms, often before you can speak with counsel. We can file prompt bond motions highlighting your community ties, military service, stable employment, and absence of threats. The result? We often achieve personal recognizance (“PR”) or 10 percent bonds instead of the $25,000 cash bond prosecutors request.

Evidence Preservation and Scene Reconstruction. Time erodes your exculpatory proof. Our investigators review Ring and Nest doorbell footage, subpoena bar CCTV, download Snapchat or TikTok stories before they vanish, and secure 911 recordings via FOIA requests. Certified forensic videographers create frame-by-frame analyses that reveal who threw the first punch, whether a weapon was visible, or if lighting impaired an eyewitness’s identification.

Expert Witnesses to Strengthen Your Violent Crime Defense

• Use-of-Force Experts: We work with retired police officers and trainers who can explain reasonable defensive tactics.
• Forensic Pathologists: Our firm coordinates with our forensic pathologists to counter prosecution claims about injury severity or weapon type.
• DNA and Latent-Print Analysts: Experts in DNA and fingerprint analysis can show that a handgun had no trace linking it to you.
• Digital-Forensics Examiners: Experts in digital forensics can reveal doctored cell-phone videos or metadata inconsistencies in social-media evidence.

Challenging Evidence Through Pretrial Motions in Assault Cases

• Fourth-Amendment Suppression: Was a warrantless home entry lawful under exigency? Did police improperly stop you?
• Miranda and Custodial Interrogation: Did detectives continue questioning after you invoked counsel? Did they refuse to honor your request to remain silent?
• Evidentiary Motions: We can file objections based on People v. Crawford to exclude hearsay “excited utterances” when the declarant refuses cross-examination. We can also file motions to exclude improper hearsay and other inadmissible evidence.
• Character Evidence: Under Rule 404(a)(2) of the Michigan Rules of Evidence, we may present the alleged victim’s violent reputation to prove your reasonable apprehension. In some circumstances, we can also show other evidence about the alleged victim’s reputation.

Domestic Violence Defense Strategies in Chesterfield Township

Prosecutions for domestic violence receive special funding and dedicated prosecutors. Common pitfalls we can neutralize include the following:

• Recanting Witnesses: The prosecution can proceed even if a partner wants charges dropped. We can emphasize reliability issues, relationship counseling, and lack of injury to prompt dismissals or deferred pleas under MCL 769.4a.
• No-Contact Orders: A no-contact order can remove you from your home. We can petition for a modified bond to allow limited, court-approved contact for childcare or financial matters.
• Lethality Assessments and Body-Cam Footage: Officers conduct on-scene questionnaires claiming predictive value of future violence. Our aggressive cross-examination can show their speculative nature.

Reducing Sentencing Risks in Michigan Violent Crime Cases

Michigan’s Sentencing Guidelines. Felony violent crimes fall under Class A, B, C, or D grids. Offense Variables (OVs) for bodily injury (OV 3), aggravated use of a weapon (OV 2), and psychological victim impact (OV 4) can raise minimum sentences dramatically. We challenge point assignments, disputing the prosecution’s claims of “serious injury” or weapon brandishing, as well as present the following mitigating information:

• polygraph results,
• PTSD or trauma evaluations,
• restitution paid early, and
• military commendations.

We can persuasively request downward departures from the Sentencing Guidelines under People v. Lockridge with information like this.

Diversion Programs and Probation Options for First-Time Offenders

• First-Offender Domestic Violence Deferral: Under MCL 769.4a, a first-time offender convicted of domestic violence can have their conviction deferred while on probation and attending counseling. Upon successful completion of probation and counseling, the domestic violence charges are then dismissed.
• Mental Health Court: For assaults linked to bipolar or PTSD diagnoses, it is possible to participate in treatment-focused mental health court rather than ordinary district or circuit court.
• Veterans Treatment Court: Veterans Treatment Court combines therapy, mentoring, and community service instead of jail.
• HYTA: Under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA), MCL 762.11, young clients between 18 to 25 can seek HYTA status, which seals assault felonies on their record upon successful probation.

Avoiding Long-Term Consequences of Violent Crime Convictions

• Firearm Possession Ban: Even misdemeanor domestic violence convictions can trigger lifetime federal firearm bans. We negotiate assault pleas other than domestic violence for clients who need to preserve their right to bear arms.
• Immigration Removal: Violent felonies and misdemeanors involving moral turpitude can lead to deportation. Our team works with immigration attorneys to craft plea agreements that preserve your lawful immigration status.
• Professional License Discipline: Nurses, teachers, and realtors, among others, must report criminal convictions. We aim for plea language and deferred adjudications that avoid a suspension of your professional license.
• Child Custody Impact: Family courts will consider findings in a criminal case during your child custody dispute. This makes case dismissals in criminal cases critical to protect your parental rights.

Frequently Asked Questions About Violent Crime Arrests and Charges

Q: “The alleged victim hit me first. Can I still be charged?”
Yes. Police often arrest both parties or whoever appears to be the “primary aggressor.” Even if you are the one who is charged, self-defense remains a complete defense if the evidence shows reasonable fear and proportional force.

Q: “Do I have to speak to detectives?”
No. Politely decline to talk to law enforcement and call counsel immediately. Even “side-bar” chats become recorded statements and are used against you.

Q: “What if the witness exaggerates his or her injuries?”
In cases where the alleged victim is exaggerating, the retrieval and independent forensic examination of medical records can expose inconsistencies, such as showing bruises predating the incident.

Q: “How long does a felony assault case take?”
A felony assault case typically takes six to nine months from arraignment to trial, depending on forensic backlogs and motion hearings. We push for a speedy trial when the delay prejudices your defense.

Q: “Can I expunge an assault conviction?”
Most non-domestic assault misdemeanors and even certain felonies become eligible for a set-aside under Michigan’s Clean Slate Act after five to ten years. But domestic violence and assault-with-intent crimes require individual petitions and depend on judicial discretion.

Why Grabel & Associates Is the Firm People Trust With Violent Crime Defense

• Trial-Proven Lawyers: Our firm is proud of our history of not-guilty verdicts on felonious assault, armed robbery, and homicide charges across Michigan.
• Scientific and Tactical Mastery: We have medical and forensic experts, crime scene reconstructionists, and retired homicide detectives on call for your case at a moment’s notice.
• Local Credibility: Prosecutors and judges in New Baltimore and Mount Clemens know our reputation for thorough preparation and ethical advocacy and consider that when deciding on charges, negotiating plea deals, and deciding whether to go to trial.
• 24/7 Emergency Access: When police haul you into the Macomb County Jail at 3 a.m., you should speak to an attorney, never a receptionist. Grabel & Associates makes sure that happens.
• Transparent, No Surprise Fees: We offer stage-based billing, with specific fees for preliminary examination, trial, sentencing, and appeal, not surprise invoices.

Get a Head Start on Your Defense Against Violent Crime Charges

Evidence fades, surveillance overwrites, and memories blur. Meanwhile, prosecutors gather new witness statements and medical reports every single day. The earlier we engage, the better we can preserve exculpatory proof, negotiate favorable bond terms, and map a winning defense.

Call Grabel & Associates 24/7 at (800) 342-7896 or submit a confidential online form for a free consultation. Put Michigan’s premier violent crime defense team to work protecting your liberty, livelihood, and future in Chesterfield Township and across Macomb County.