Detroit Assault Defense Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been accused of assault in Detroit, the choices you make in the next 24 to 48 hours can shape the rest of your life. At Grabel & Associates, our experienced Detroit assault defense lawyers have defended thousands of clients who have been charged with misdemeanors and serious felonies. Our attorneys bring that statewide experience to every Wayne County case we take, ensuring each client receives the skilled, aggressive representation they deserve.

We know how the 36th District Court handles arraignments and probable cause conferences, how prosecutors build assault cases in the District Court and the Third Judicial Circuit Court, and how to position your defense from day one. As a seasoned Detroit criminal defense team, we understand the local courts, judges, and prosecutors, and how to leverage that knowledge to your advantage. The sooner we get involved, the more options you will have for your defense.

Michigan law uses the terms “assault” and “assault and battery” in specific ways. An assault is an attempt or threat to cause physical harm that puts another person in reasonable fear of an immediate battery. Battery is the actual offensive or harmful touching. At the misdemeanor level, assault or assault and battery is punishable by up to 93 days in jail and fines. Still, there are enhanced penalties if the alleged victim is pregnant or in other specified categories.

If you’re facing these charges, consulting an experienced assault and battery attorney can make a crucial difference in understanding the nuances of Michigan law and protecting your rights throughout the legal process.

Assault charges exist on a spectrum, ranging from misdemeanor simple assault to life-maximum felonies. Understanding where your case falls on this spectrum is critical to building the proper defense. A skilled Detroit assault defense lawyer can help you evaluate the charges, the evidence, and the best path forward.

• Simple Assault and Assault and Battery (MCL 750.81). Simple assault or assault and battery is typically a misdemeanor and is often charged after bar disputes, neighbor conflicts, or minor fights. Basic penalties can include up to 93 days in jail, but enhancements and prior convictions can increase your exposure.
• Aggravated Assault (MCL 750.81a). An aggravated assault is an assault without a weapon that results in serious or aggravated injury (but without intent to murder or to cause great bodily harm). It is a one-year misdemeanor, meaning you could face up to 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Assaults involving domestic relationships carry similar exposure with specialized conditions.
• Felonious Assault and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (MCL 750.82). Using, brandishing, or pointing a dangerous weapon during an assault (without intent to murder or cause great bodily harm) is a felonious assault. Penalties can include up to 4 years in prison, fines up to $6,000, and 150 hours of community service. You can face increased penalties in unique situations, such as assaults involving the possession of a weapon in a school zone.
• Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm Less Than Murder (MCL 750.84). Sometimes charged where prosecutors allege intent to inflict serious injury, including strangulation or suffocation, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder (AWIGBH) is a 10-year felony with fines up to $5,000.
• Assault with Intent to Murder (MCL 750.83). Among the most serious assault offenses is assault with intent to murder (AWIM). An AWIM conviction is punishable by life or any term of years. These cases demand an immediate, specialized defense and a meticulous challenge to all the prosecution’s evidence of intent.

Michigan also has specific penalty structures for domestic relationship assaults, with escalating penalties for second- and third-degree offenses and specialized probationary conditions. Understanding these nuances with the help of an assault defense attorney in Detroit can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.

Every case is different, but our approach is consistent: pressure the prosecution’s proof, define and assert defenses early, and open every path to a dismissal, charge reduction, or outright acquittal. An experienced Detroit assault defense lawyer tailors each strategy to the unique facts of your case.

• Attack the Elements. The prosecution must prove each element beyond a reasonable doubt, including intent, present ability, causation of injury where required, and any weapon use. In weapon cases, for example, we test whether the object qualifies as a dangerous weapon, whether there was actual brandishing, and whether witnesses are reliable.
• Assert Self-Defense or Defense of Others. Michigan’s Self-Defense Act, MCL 780.971 et seq., permits the use of force when you honestly and reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent unlawful force against yourself or someone else. In certain circumstances, deadly force may be justified. We evaluate imminence, proportionality, and whether you were engaged in a crime at the time of the conduct at issue. Those details control whether the protection applies.
• Challenge Identification and Credibility. A surprising number of assault cases turn on who started it and who is believed. We scrutinize 911 recordings, on-scene statements, prior inconsistent statements, lighting and distance for eyewitnesses, and potential motives to fabricate, such as using the criminal case as leverage in a civil divorce or custody dispute.
• Forensic and Medical Analysis. When severe or aggravated injury is alleged, we obtain complete medical records, consult independent experts, and test whether the documented injuries match the evidence of record. In cases involving strangulation, MCL 750.84, we look for objective signs, timing gaps, and alternative causes to undermine the prosecution’s version of events.
• Suppression Motions. If police exceed the scope of a stop, conduct a search without a valid warrant or exception, or obtain statements without proper Miranda compliance, we can file motions to suppress the evidence. Weakening the prosecution’s case before trial can lead to charge reductions or dismissals.
• Sentencing Strategy and Diversion Outcomes. Even where evidence is strong, we work to reframe the narrative through character evidence, treatment or anger management records, restitution, and documented community ties. In eligible cases, we pursue deferrals or creative resolutions to avoid incarceration and, in some cases, a public conviction.

The most important thing to do if you find yourself being accused of an assault offense is to call an experienced Detroit assault lawyer you can trust. Acting quickly can make the difference between an early dismissal and a damaging record. But there are several other steps you can take right away:

• Do not make statements to police or alleged victims. Even something as unremarkable as a comment that “I was just defending myself” can be twisted later in the prosecution’s favor.
• Preserve evidence, including clothing, text messages, social media DMs, ring doorbell or bar camera footage, and medical records.
• List witnesses who saw the incident or its aftermath, injuries (or the lack thereof), and demeanor.
• Call counsel immediately so we can engage with prosecutors, intelligently pursue bond conditions, and protect your rights from the first hearing.

For most Detroit assault misdemeanors and the early stages of felony cases, arraignments and preliminary examinations are handled in the 36th District Court located at 421 Madison Street, Detroit, MI 48226. Felony trials are held in the Wayne County Third Judicial Circuit Court at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice. A knowledgeable assault lawyer in Detroit understands how these courts operate, from the local judges’ tendencies to the prosecutor’s strategies, and can use that insight to your advantage. Knowing the forum, regional practices, and litigation realities helps us plan a defense that anticipates how your case will move through the system, not just how it looks on paper.

Not automatically. The prosecutor, not the complaining witness, decides whether to proceed with criminal charges. We use sworn retractions, impeachment material, and evidentiary challenges to make it impractical to continue the case without the complaining witness.

Simple assault, including assault and battery, involves no serious injury and no weapon, and is a misdemeanor. Aggravated assault involves a serious or aggravated injury without a gun and is a one-year misdemeanor. Felonious assault involves a dangerous weapon but no intent to murder or cause great bodily harm, and is a four-year felony.

AWIGBH is the acronym for assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. Prosecutors allege that you intended serious injury. It is a ten-year felony and is often charged where injuries are significant or strangulation is alleged.

This charge requires proof of the actual intent to kill, not just the intent to injure. It carries a sentence of life or any term of years. We analyze intent through statements, weapon use, wound patterns, and context.

Yes. Suppose you honestly and reasonably believed that force was necessary to prevent imminent unlawful force, and you were not engaged in a crime. In that case, you are statutorily authorized to defend yourself, including in response to both deadly and non-deadly force.

Misdemeanors usually stay in the 36th District Court. Felonies begin there for arraignment and the preliminary examination. Then they are bound over to the Wayne County Third Judicial Circuit Court if probable cause is found.

Our process at Grabel & Associates is designed for precision, speed, and local insight. Our Detroit assault defense attorneys understand that both the Wayne County court system and the prosecution’s methods can help you stay one step ahead at every stage of your case.

• Immediate Intake and Bond Planning: We evaluate risk factors; propose targeted bond conditions, no-contact terms, and alcohol testing if relevant; and prepare materials to support the least restrictive release.
• Evidence Map in the First Week: We push for early discovery, including CAD logs, 911 calls, body-cam video, medical records, and communications. We also thoroughly prepare for every witness, exhibit, and legal issue.
• Leverage Through Motions: We file suppression and evidentiary motions proactively, challenging hearsay, Rule 404(b) other-acts evidence, and speculative intent theories.
• Parallel Negotiation Track: While preparing for trial, we open a parallel negotiation track to explore dismissals, reductions (such as from AWIGBH to felonious assault or aggravated assault, depending on the facts), or deferred outcomes.
• Trial Ready From Day One: We use demonstratives, timelines, and, where appropriate, expert testimony, forensics, biomechanics, and emergency medicine to translate your story into courtroom language a jury understands.

• Decades of Statewide Criminal Practice: We bring deep familiarity with Michigan’s assault statutes and local court procedures, including those here in Wake County, to every case.
• Leadership and Supervision: Our team is led by attorney Scott Grabel, a seasoned trial and appellate attorney who oversees strategy on serious felony matters.
• Complete Lifecycle Representation: From our preliminary investigation through a verdict, and if needed, an appeal, we continue the fight.
• Client Centered Communication: Our assault defense lawyer in Detroit keeps you informed, prepares you for each hearing, and makes sure you understand your options at every step of the entire process.

Even a misdemeanor assault conviction can affect employment, licensing, housing, firearm rights, immigration status, and family law matters. Felony convictions carry harsher collateral consequences and longer look-back periods. A strategic early resolution can protect your record and your future. If you’re facing assault charges, consulting with an experienced assault lawyer in Detroit can help you understand your options, protect your rights, and work toward the best possible outcome in your case.

Assault cases move fast in Detroit, and critical decisions are made at the very first hearing. Put an experienced Detroit assault defense lawyer in your corner before you talk to law enforcement or appear in court. Call Grabel & Associates at 1-800-342-7896 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation. We will assess your case, outline your defenses, and move immediately to protect your freedom.