Lansing Criminal Defense Lawyers

When you or someone you love is facing criminal charges in Lansing, every decision you make matters. From the first conversation with police to the last word at sentencing, strategic guidance can change the trajectory of your case. At Grabel & Associates, our focus is exclusively on criminal defense, representing clients in Lansing and throughout Michigan in a wide range of cases, including felony and misdemeanor charges, investigations, and appeals. If you’re seeking the best Lansing criminal defense lawyer, our law firm is dedicated to protecting your rights and achieving the best possible outcome in your case.

Our Ingham County criminal defense teams' approach combines rigorous motion practice, seasoned trial work, and practical negotiation strategies tailored to the unique courts and prosecutors that handle cases in and around Ingham County.

The earliest moves in a case often have the most significant impact. If law enforcement contacts you, be respectful and provide your name and identification, but do not answer questions or consent to searches without speaking to counsel. Politely state that you wish to remain silent and request a criminal defense lawyer in Lansing.

Many people believe they can talk their way out of trouble. In practice, however, statements are often used to establish probable cause, corroborate a complainant’s version of events, or lock you into details that can be difficult to overcome later. Calling Grabel & Associates promptly allows us to intervene with investigators, preserve favorable evidence such as video, texts, and location data, and position you for the most favorable release conditions at your arraignment.

Most Lansing cases begin in a district court. Cases in the City of Lansing are typically handled in the 54-A District Court. East Lansing cases, including those arising near Michigan State University, are generally handled in the 54-B District Court. Other Ingham County cases from the surrounding communities are heard in the 55th District Court.

If a felony is bound over after the preliminary examination in one of those three district courts, it proceeds in the 30th Judicial Circuit Court in Ingham County. Appeals from 30th Circuit Court judgments may go to the Michigan Court of Appeals, and further discretionary review may be sought in the Michigan Supreme Court.

Local detention facilities include the Ingham County Jail, but municipal police departments may use short-term lockups before a transfer. Knowing the customs and schedules of these courts, as well as the practices of local prosecutors and probation officers, helps us advise you on the timeline for your case, motion scheduling, and plea and trial strategy.

Every charge comes with “elements” that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt using admissible evidence. An experienced Lansing criminal defense lawyer understands how prosecutors build their cases and where weaknesses may exist.

• Operating while intoxicated (OWI) is charged under Michigan’s Motor Vehicle Code, MCL 257.1 et seq., and the prosecution typically relies on driving observations, standardized field sobriety tests, and breath or blood tests to meet its burden of proof.
• Theft offenses like larceny, MCL 750.356, and retail fraud, MCL 750.356d, are taken seriously in a university town where loss prevention officers and video evidence are
• Assaultive crimes range from simple assault, MCL 750.81, to felonious assault, MCL 750.82, and domestic violence, MCL 750.81, and each has its own specific intent and injury requirements.
• Drug crimes include possession, MCL 333.7403, possession with intent to deliver, MCL 333.7401, and delivery or manufacturing, MCL 333.7401, with penalties scaling based on substance and weight.
• Weapons allegations commonly involve carrying a concealed weapon, MCL 750.227, and being a felon in possession, MCL 750.224f.
• Sex offenses, including criminal sexual conduct (CSC), MCL 750.520b – MCL 750.520e, are among the most complex and sensitive cases, requiring aggressive investigation and, where appropriate, expert consultation.
• White-collar allegations, such as fraud under MCL 750.218, embezzlement under MCL 750.174, and pretenses under MCL 750.218, often begin as paper- or data-driven investigations. Early counsel involvement can shape the outcome before charges are even filed.

Michigan law includes various protections that apply in criminal cases, including several essential defense tools.

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Michigan’s similar constitutional protections, for example, require law enforcement to justify traffic stops, searches, and arrests. If police lacked reasonable suspicion for the stop or probable cause for the search, physical evidence can be suppressed.

The Fifth Amendment and Michigan’s rules on custodial interrogations require officers to honor your right to remain silent and your right to counsel. Miranda warnings are necessary before custodial questioning, and any statements taken in violation of your rights can be excluded.

• In OWI cases, the state must prove operation, intoxication, and lawful Breath or blood results can be challenged if testing protocols, instrument maintenance, collection, or chain-of-custody issues undermine reliability, or if medical conditions undermine reliability.
• In assault or home invasion cases, Michigan’s self-defense law, MCL 780.972, recognizes that people may use reasonable force if they honestly and reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent harm.
• In sex-offense cases, the prosecution must prove sexual contact or penetration and the absence of consent where required. Credibility assessments, forensic evidence, phone records, and background information about facts like the alleged victim’s relationship with the accused can shift a jury’s view when properly presented.
• In drug cases, possession can be actual or constructive. But mere presence is not enough, and suppression of unlawfully seized evidence can end the case.
• In theft and fraud cases, a lack of intent to permanently deprive or an honest claim of right can be viable depending on the facts of your case.

Michigan’s habitual-offender enhancements, MCL 769.10 – MCL 769.12, can increase maximum penalties if prior felony convictions are proven. Therefore, early assessment of criminal history accuracy is critical to a successful negotiation strategy.

Arraignment is the first formal court appearance in every criminal case. During your arraignment, the judge or magistrate informs you of the charge or charges against you, advises you of your rights, sets bond, and imposes conditions like no-contact orders, travel limits, alcohol testing, or GPS tethering. Having counsel at arraignment can mean the difference between a personal recognizance (PR) bond and a high cash bond.

The pretrial phase at the district-court level focuses on discovery, motion practice, and plea discussions. In felony cases, the preliminary examination tests whether probable cause exists to believe a felony was committed and that you committed it. This is a strategic opportunity. Sometimes we hold the initial exam to cross-examine witnesses and lock in their testimony. Other times, we waive the preliminary exam to preserve negotiations or avoid unnecessary testimony if a resolution is near.

After the bench trial, the circuit-court phase includes evidentiary motions, plea bargaining, and trial. If you are convicted or if you accept a plea, the case proceeds to sentencing. Michigan law utilizes advisory sentencing guidelines. The sentencing court calculates offense variables (OVs) and prior record variables (PRVs), hears argument, considers victim impact statements and mitigation evidence, and imposes a sentence. Effective advocacy at each stage can reduce charges, limit conditions, or achieve outright dismissal, with a Lansing criminal defense lawyer guiding you through every step.

Judges in the 54-A, 54-B, and 55th District Courts and in the 30th Circuit Court consider the seriousness of the allegations, your criminal history, any risk of flight, and your community ties when setting bond. We prepare a concise presentation on employment, education, family ties, treatment engagement, and housing to support release on minimal bond with reasonable conditions. If the bond is set too high, we can seek a bond reduction. We can also address alleged violations to avoid revocation. Staying compliant with testing and reporting requirements is essential, and a criminal defense lawyer in Lansing can help coordinate communication with treatment providers, ensuring you remain in good standing with the court.

Many criminal cases are resolved through negotiated pleas or deferred adjudications. A knowledgeable Lansing criminal defense attorney can help you evaluate every available option and ensure that any resolution serves your best long-term interests. Michigan’s Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA) permits eligible young people to keep a conviction off their public record if they complete probation. Similarly, first-time domestic violence defendants may qualify for a deferred disposition that can protect their record upon successful completion of probation terms. And specialty courts, including sobriety and drug treatment courts, can offer treatment-focused paths that reduce recidivism while limiting jail exposure.

These options are not automatic, and we evaluate eligibility, collateral consequences, and long-term goals before recommending a path forward. When plea negotiations are not in your best interest, we prepare for trial with focused motions, careful jury-selection strategies, expert engagement where appropriate, and the persuasive presentation of your defense.

A criminal case affects far more than your freedom. Convictions can impact your student status and financial aid at Michigan State University, eligibility for professional licenses in select fields such as nursing, teaching, and engineering, immigration status for non-citizens, firearm rights, driving privileges, employment options, and housing opportunities.

We account for these collateral consequences at every step of your case. For example, an OWI conviction can lead to driver’s license restrictions or suspensions, as well as ignition-interlock requirements. Certain drug convictions also carry license sanctions that must be carefully analyzed under current law. Domestic violence convictions can affect firearm possession. Even non-violent offenses can trigger disciplinary actions for professional licenses.

By anticipating these outcomes, we structure negotiations to protect what matters most to you. If we cannot secure a plea offer that addresses these collateral consequences, we will take the case to trial and aggressively fight against these life-altering outcomes.

The fight is not always over at sentencing. If legal errors affected the outcome of your case, we can pursue a motion for a new trial or appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals. Appellate practice focuses on preserving and presenting legal errors, such as the improper admission of evidence, incorrect jury instructions, or sentencing mistakes.

Separate from appeals, Michigan’s expungement law, MCL 780.621, allows eligible individuals to set aside certain convictions after waiting periods. Setting aside convictions can help with employment, licensing, and housing. We assess our clients’ eligibility, gather records, prepare filings, and represent you at hearings to give you the best chance at a clean slate.

Winning outcomes are built on investigation and preparation. We start by listening to you, mapping out the timeline, and securing evidence before it disappears. To do so, we send preservation letters for surveillance footage, request body-cam and dash-cam video, subpoena 911 calls, and obtain phone records, social media content, and medical or school records if relevant.

Then we analyze police reports with a view toward motions to suppress evidence or statements. Where helpful, we consult with experts in toxicology, accident reconstruction, digital forensics, psychology, or medicine. And we prepare you for every hearing so that you feel confident and informed.

During plea negotiations, we present mitigation materials, including documentation of counseling, treatment, education, employment, and community support. If trial is the right path, we craft a clear theory of defense and present it in a way that is understandable and compelling to jurors from the Lansing community. Our experienced criminal defense lawyers in Lansing are dedicated to protecting your rights and achieving the best possible outcome for your case.

Practicing regularly in the 54-A, 54-B, and 55th District Courts, as well as in the 30th Circuit Court, gives our team insight into the procedures, preferences, and scheduling realities that influence cases in the Lansing area. We understand how local probation departments assess risk and make recommendations, how prosecutors evaluate charging decisions and plea offers, and how judges approach bond, discovery disputes, evidentiary issues, and sentencing.

This local perspective does not replace our statewide expertise; it enhances it. By combining local familiarity with a broad command of Michigan criminal law, our Lansing criminal defense lawyers make informed recommendations grounded in direct experience with the exact judge who will make the most critical decisions in your case.

In a criminal case, you are entitled to the presumption of innocence, meaning the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. You also have the right to a speedy trial, the right to confront the witnesses against you, the right to present evidence and call witnesses in your defense, and the right to remain silent throughout the proceedings. Finally, you have the right to practical assistance of counsel and the right to seek suppression of illegally obtained evidence.

You have the right to appeal if a legal error impacted the outcome of your case. Our role is to protect those rights at every stage of your case, to translate the complex legal decisions into clear choices, and to carry the burden of the process so you can focus on your life and family. With a Lansing criminal defense attorney by your side, you have an advocate who understands both the law and the people enforcing it.

Although we have defended clients against nearly all criminal charges available under Michigan law, the most common we see in Lansing include the following:

• OWI and related driving offenses, including high bodily alcohol content (BAC), operating while visibly impaired (OWVI), and child endangerment associated with alcohol or drugs,
• Assault-related crimes, including domestic violence, aggravated assault, and felonious assault,
• Theft and property crimes, including retail fraud, larceny, embezzlement, and receiving or concealing stolen property,
• Drug possession and delivery charges involving prescription medications, cocaine, methamphetamine, or other controlled substances,
• Weapons charges involving concealed-carry, carrying with unlawful BAC, or prohibited possession,
• Sex offenses ranging from CSC to Internet-based allegations,
• University-related crimes, including minor in possession (MIP), disorderly conduct, and other campus incidents (in addition to parallel student conduct proceedings), and
• Probation violations, bench warrants, and failure-to-appear charges.

No matter the accusation, our criminal defense lawyers in Lasing provide a clear plan from the first call.

Preparation for sentencing begins the day we are retained. We gather the documents, evaluations, and statements that help judges see the person behind the case. In Michigan’s advisory-guidelines sentencing system, persuasive arguments about the accurate scoring of OVs and PRVs can change the recommended range drastically.

We correct errors in the presentence investigation report (PSIR), argue for credit for time served, request community-based sentences where appropriate, and propose structured conditions that address a judge’s concerns while preserving your job and family responsibilities. Letters from employers, coaches, teachers, clergy, and family can be powerful when organized and presented strategically and thoughtfully. Demonstrated sobriety, counseling, or community service can make a difference. Our sentencing memoranda and courtroom advocacy share one purpose: securing the least restrictive, most constructive outcome possible based on the facts and the law. With a criminal defense attorney in Lansing guiding your preparation and presentation, you can enter sentencing confident that every mitigating factor has been brought to the court’s attention.

Focus and experience matter. Our firm’s practice is dedicated exclusively to criminal defense across Michigan, including right here in Lansing. When you work with Grabel & Associates, you gain the benefit of decades of combined experience, hundreds of motions and trials, and a deep team of attorneys who collaborate on strategy, research, and courtroom presentation.

We are responsive, communicate clearly about next steps, and thoroughly prepare you for every hearing so nothing catches you by surprise. Our team is committed to ensuring you understand your rights, your options, and the strategies available to protect your future.

Whether your priority is minimizing publicity, protecting a professional license, preserving immigration status, or fighting for your reputation at trial, our Lansing criminal defense lawyers will tailor the defense to your specific goals. We take pride in standing between our clients and the power of the state, and we work relentlessly to achieve the best result the facts and law will allow.

If you are being investigated, have been charged, or have a loved one in custody in the Lansing area, contact Grabel & Associates today. We can arrange consultations quickly, including evenings and weekends when emergencies arise. From arraignments in the 54-A, 54-B, and 55th District Court to trials in the 30th Circuit Court to appeals, our team stands ready to protect your rights and your future. Call us now at 1-800-342-7896 or use our secure online form to put our experienced Lansing criminal defense attorneys to work for you.