Thorough. Aggressive. Honest.

Cases and Results

Oceana County Circuit Court

Client charged in Oceana County with armed robbery, assault with dangerous weapon and weapons felony firearm. Through diligent review of the case and negotiations with the government, this case was dismissed in district court.

Kent County Circuit Court

Client charged in Kent County with two counts of delivery and manufacturing narcotic, drug supplemental 2nd and habitual offender 2nd. Through negotiations this case was dismissed. Bond canceled and returned.

Ottawa County Circuit Court

Client charged in Ottawa County with two counts criminal sexual conduct 3rd, both charges carrying a 15 year max sentence. Client was facing 3 to 15 years on each count. After lengthy negotiations one count was dismissed and the client was sentenced to 2 to 3.3 years.

Muskegon County Circuit Court

Client was charged in Muskegon County with Flee and Elude, controlled substance narcotics and conspiracy to controlled substance narcotics. Both drug charges were possible life offenses. The drug charges were dismissed in district court.

Muskegon County Circuit Court

Juvenile client charged in Muskegon County with criminal sexual conduct 3rd degree. Through lengthy negotiations the charges were completely dismissed.

Kent County Circuit Court

Client charged in Kent County with one count criminal sexual conduct 2nd degree and one count criminal sexual conduct 4th degree. The client was facing deportation issues. After negotiations the client’s case was taken under advisement and will be dismissed after discharge from probation.

Kent County Circuit Court

Client charged in Kent County with reckless driving. This case was resolved with a civil infraction and the original charged were dismissed.

Kent County Circuit Court

Client faced possible criminal sexual conduct charges in Kent County. I worked the case at the investigation phase. The case was resolved without charges.

Federal Court

Client was charged in federal court with two counts of controlled substance – delivery and manufacturing methamphetamines and one count of controlled substance – narcotics. The client was facing 87 to 108 months in federal prison. Through diligent negotiations the client received 60 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.

Frank Stanley practices in federal and Michigan trial and appellate courts. Frank Stanley handles serious felonies, including murder, assault, drugs, sex crimes, white collar crimes, and Internet crimes. Frank Stanley wins for his clients.

Recent Highlights:

United States Supreme Court

Client convicted in federal court for manufacture of ecstasy. Another attorney represented the client. Sentenced to 12 years. Frank Stanley came in for the appeal.

Certiorari granted, order of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated, case remanded for further proceedings. Case still pending in Sixth Circuit.

Kent County Circuit Court

Client was charged with two life offenses (criminal sexual conduct-first degree) and one 15 year offense. (criminal sexual conduct-second degree). Client was also charged as a habitual offender. Client confessed to three different people, including the police and during taped telephone conversations from the jail. The complainant was his stepdaughter. The complainant and the client’s wife (natural mother of complainant) both testified against the client.

Frank Stanley took the case to trial. The client was facing a very stiff sentence if he was convicted.

NOT GUILTY verdict. Client went home to his family. Despite all of the odds, Frank Stanley convinced the jury that there was reasonable doubt about the client’s guilt.

Examples of other cases where Frank Stanley represented clients in serious trouble. Frank Stanley works hard. Frank Stanley never gives up.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was a Vietnam vet charged with Assault with Intent to Murder. In paramilitary style, the client tried to shoot 3 police officers. The client had a psychotic episode and lost control of himself. The client was wounded and apprehended.

Frank Stanley represented the client. He negotiated a resolution where the defendant received psychological counseling and straight probation. The client successfully completed probation. He received no jail or prison time.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was a military officer who was charged with sexually assaulting a 13 year old girl at a shopping mall.

Frank Stanley took the case to trial. Three days into the trial, the prosecutor’s case was going so badly, that the prosecutor offered a plea to a misdemeanor. The client would be allowed to plead no contest and the plea would be taken under advisement.

Frank Stanley negotiated a plea to a non-sexual assault crime. The client successfully completed a short period of probation, and the whole incident was eventually removed from his record.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was a high school teacher who was accused of sexually assaulting two of his under-aged female students. The sentencing guidelines would have required, if convicted, a minimum prison sentence of 8 years. The actual time in prison would have likely been much longer because the Parole Board was not likely to parole the client at his first eligibility.

Frank Stanley negotiated a resolution of the case. The client received probation and served only 6 months in jail. He is a free man.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was a 15 year old drug dealer who was involved in a shootout with the police. He was charged with assault with intent to murder a police officer. If convicted, the defendant would have received life in prison.

Frank Stanley took the case to trial. After a one month high-profile jury trial, the jury acquitted the client on the assault with intent to murder. The client was convicted of felonious assault which was a much less serious offense.

Frank Stanley didn’t give up. He appealed, and the client’s convictions were reversed by the Court of Appeals. The client was not re-tried.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was accused of possessing over a kilogram of heroin with the intent to deliver. He was also charged with a cocaine-related offenses and with possessing three illegal weapons.

The client was facing life in prison.

Frank Stanley challenged the search of his client’s car. The challenge was successful and resulted in the dismissal of all charges except one.

Frank Stanley negotiated a binding sentencing agreement for time-served. The client ended up serving less than 6 months in jail.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was a police officer, who was accused of brandishing his service revolver in a night club.

Frank Stanley was retained to help the client during the investigative stage. Frank worked hard to persuade the investigators and the prosecutor that charges were not appropriate.

NOT CHARGED. The investigators and the prosecutor agreed with Frank Stanley and decided not to charge the client.

Benzie County Circuit Court

The client was accused of assault with intent to murder. The police believed that he had tried to murder a federal DNR officer with a high-powered rifle.

The client was first represented by another lawyer. The client went to trial and was convicted by the jury.

Frank Stanley was hired before sentencing. He reviewed the trial and concluded that the prior attorney had been ineffective. Frank Stanley filed a motion to set aside the verdict. Extensive briefing and oral argument was required.

Frank Stanley was able to persuade the prior attorney to admit that he had been ineffective.

VERDICT SET ASIDE. After the verdict was set aside, Frank Stanley negotiated a resolution. The client entered a plea to a misdemeanor which was taken under advisement. The client successfully completed a period of probation. As part of the agreement negotiated by Frank Stanley, the client’s record was cleared and all charges were dropped.

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Client was a bank officer who was charged with laundering over $1,000,000 in stolen HUD money. The client was facing a likely minimum sentence of 15 years if convicted.

Frank Stanley filed a successful motion to suppress evidence. As a result, the government was deprived of over 1000 exhibits which they had planned to use against the client.

Case DISMISSED. After two weeks of trial, Frank Stanley filed a motion to dismiss on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence to send the case to the jury. The federal judge agreed. The client went home a free man.

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Client convicted in federal court for growing marijuana. Client was represented by another attorney. Sentenced to 10 years. Frank Stanley came in for the appeal.

District Court reversed by the federal appellate court. Client was re-sentenced to 6 years. Frank Stanley’s appeal saved 4 years in prison for the client.

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Internet possession of Child pornography case. The case was kept pending for almost two years so that client could enter counseling and benefit from that treatment.

Frank Stanley negotiated a resolution with the government. Client received lowest possible sentence of 27 months. A sentence reduction is being sought based on a recent decision by the United States Supreme Court.

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Client was one of nine federal drug defendants. The government alleged an interstate drug ring and named the client as the leaders of the ring.

Just before trial, seven of the defendants pled guilty and agreed to cooperate against the client. Each of these witnesses testified against the client.

NOT GUILTY. The client went home. The witnesses who testified against the client went to prison.

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Client was charged with drug crimes. Police had followed footprints in the snow and discovered the client and a large amount of crack cocaine. Numerous police officers testified at trial about the investigation and about what they had observed. The jury deliberated for two days.

NOT GUILTY. The client went home a free man.

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

The client was accused of being a very sophisticated marijuana grower. The police had seized over $100,000 worth of equipment including ventilating fans, odor reducers, and high-intensity lights. The police had also seized more than 1000 plants.

The evidence had been seized during a search. Frank Stanley filed a successful suppression motion. The federal judge agreed that the warrant should not have been issued.

DISMISSED. Without the suppressed evidence, the prosecutor did not have enough other evidence to continue the prosecution.

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

The client was a major marijuana grower. He was accused of growing marijuana plants outdoors, harvesting those plants, and selling the marijuana to selected customers. The client entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to 15 years in a federal prison.

Frank Stanley did not give up. He continued to work the case and was able to find legal reasons why the client’s sentence should be reduced. The client was re-sentenced to 6 years in prison and is now free. Frank Stanley’s efforts saved the client 9 years in prison.

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

The government threatened to charge the client with a weapons offense that would result, on conviction, in a five year mandatory sentence. The sentence would also run consecutively to any sentence that would be imposed for other convictions.

The client’s then attorney did not resolve the case, and the client was thereafter charged with the weapons offense. On the eve of trial, the attorney advised the client to plead guilty as charged, including the weapons offense. The client did so.

Frank Stanley was then hired. After careful research, he filed a motion to withdraw the plea on the grounds that if the case was going to be resolved by plea, it should have been resolved prior to the government making good on its threat. The other attorney’s failure to act effectively added 5 years onto the client’s punishment.

The federal judge granted a hearing, and Frank Stanley questioned the other attorney under oath.

MOTION GRANTED. The defendant was allowed to re-plead without the gun charge. Frank Stanley saved the client 5 years.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was accused of sexually molesting all three of his children. The client was charged with nine separate counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. All counts were life offenses. All three children testified against the client. The trial was a month long and the jury was out for 3 days.

NOT GUILTY on all counts. The client left the courtroom a free man.

Barry County Circuit Court

The client was accused of being a major maker of methamphetamine. He had numerous run-ins with police and had fled the police on multiple occasions. One incident supposedly involved a high speed chase ending with the complete destruction of a police cruiser. The client was charged with multiple charges, most of which were life offenses.

Frank Stanley resolved the case with a plea to minor felony counts, rehabilitation and therapy, and no jail.

Frank Stanley still didn’t give up. He kept fighting for the client and was able to convince the Court to vacate a conviction and to allow the client to re-plead on a deferred basis. Result: The client ended up with no drug conviction on his record.

Mason County Circuit Court

The client was charged with First-Degree Criminal Sexual conduct (a life offense), two counts of felonious assault, one count of felony firearm (2 year mandatory consecutive to any other conviction) and aggravated domestic violence. Because of the seriousness of the charges, a very high bail was set, and the client spent several months in jail while the case was pending.

Frank Stanley resolved the case with a plea to reduced charges, time served, and counseling. The client was allowed to leave the state and is now residing with his family in California.

Kalamazoo County Circuit Court

The client was a member of a biker club. He was charged along with other co-defendants with kidnapping another club member, detaining that person for three days, and beating that person severely. The client and his co-defendants believed that the other club member had stolen money from the club and the purpose of their actions was to get the money back. The client was considered one of the two main perpetrators of the crime.

Frank Stanley resolved the case with a plea to reduced charges and a sentencing agreement calling for straight probation. The client did not have to cooperate. The other main perpetrator, represented by a different lawyer, went to trial and got ten years in prison.

Ingham County Circuit Court

The client was one of three business partners who ran a multi-million dollar clothing business. The client was charged with embezzling over $200,000. Frank Stanley took the case to trial. The trial lasted over two weeks. At the end of the trial, Frank Stanley asked the Court to dismiss the case on the grounds that the prosecutor had not proven the charged crimes beyond a reasonable doubt.

DISMISSED. Frank Stanley’s motion was granted, and the client went home.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was charged with sexually assaulting his girl friend’s sister at a time when the girl friend was pregnant. The client supposedly used a knife during the attack and penetrated the complainant both anally and vaginally.

Frank Stanley took the case to trial. Both women testified against the client. The trial lasted two weeks.

NOT GUILTY on all charges. Frank Stanley was physically assaulted by the complainant’s family after the verdict came in.

Oakland County Circuit Court

The client was a mentally impaired young man who was being investigated for a brutal sexual assault on a woman. The woman had been severely beaten and was hospitalized for more than two months. The client had been identified by the make and model of his vehicle and well as the color of that vehicle.

NOT CHARGED. Frank Stanley was able to persuade the prosecutor that the evidence was not enough to charge the client. The investigating police officer was 6’6″ tall and weighed over 250 pounds. The police officer was so enraged by the outcome that he body slammed Frank Stanley.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was accused of home invasion and sexual assault. The intruder had fled the scene while naked. The police discovered clothing, pants, a wallet, and keys on the floor of the residence. The wallet belonged to the client, as did the clothing and keys. The wallet contained the client’s driver’s license with the client’s picture and address. The client lived a mile away from the scene of the incident. Within 30 minutes of the incident, both the complainant and her roommate had identified the client.

The client had hired a different lawyer who told the client that the case could not be defended and who refused to try the case. Two weeks before trial, Frank Stanley came into the case. The Court would not grant an adjournment so Frank Stanley intensely prepared for trial. The jury trial lasted a week.

NOT GUILTY. The client was free.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was accused of breaking into a church. The caretaker had observed the client go into the church. Being suspicious, the caretaker called the police. When the police entered the church to investigate, they claimed to have observed the client using a screw driver in an attempt to pry open the collection box.

The case went to trial. Both police officers and the caretaker testified about what they saw.

NOT GUILTY. Frank Stanley had convinced the jury that there was reasonable doubt.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was at a dance club and asked a woman to dance with him. An argument ensued between the woman’s boyfriend and the client. The client was a body builder and a very large man.

30 witnesses–other people at the club–saw the boyfriend being severely beaten. The boyfriend sustained a deviated septum and a number of other serious witnesses. Frank Stanley took the case to trial.

NOT GUILTY. Frank Stanley convinced the jury that there was reasonable doubt about the client’s guilt.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was charged with numerous felonies, including larceny from a building, breaking and entering, and assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder. Because the client had a lengthy prior record, the potential punishment was elevated to life in prison. Frank Stanley took one of the cases to trial. The prosecutor claimed that the client had perjured himself when the client testified in his own defense. The prosecutor presented evidence of that perjury.

NOT GUILTY. The jury was not convinced by the prosecutor’s evidence or his claims of perjury.

Frank Stanley then negotiated settlements to the remaining charges. The client received probation.

Mackinac County Circuit Court

The client was a lawyer who was charged with two counts of Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct. The client was accused of befriending a neighborhood boy and then molesting him. A very high bail was set, and the client was incarcerated while the case was pending.

Frank Stanley negotiated a resolution to the charges. One charge was dismissed, and the client was sentenced to probation and time served.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was charged with sexual assault of an eight year old girl. The client had befriended the family. He was accused of assaulting the girl on the school playground. Frank Stanley took the case to trial. Because of the nature of the facts, he tried this case to the judge rather than to a jury. The trial lasted a week.

NOT GUILTY. The judge concluded that the prosecutor did not have enough evidence to sustain the charges.

Barry County Circuit Court

The client had a very sophisticated marijuana grow operation. Much of it was underground. The growing plants were concealed by a pole barn. The police used thermal imaging devices to determine that excessive heat was being generated. The police concluded that the heat was caused by grow lights. 2000 plants were seized.

Frank Stanley negotiated a resolution to the case. The client entered a plea and received probation.

Kent County Circuit Court

The client was charged with being a sexual predator and with a 15 year felony.

Frank Stanley took an interlocutory appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals and convinced that Court that the 15 year felony was improperly charged.

REDUCED. As a result of the successful appeal, the charges were reduced to a five year felony.

Newaygo County Circuit Court

The client was viewed as a sexually delinquent predator. The client was accused of luring a 20 year old woman into the woods where she was repeatedly assaulted and strangled. The woman survived, and identified the client as her attacker. The FBI was brought into the investigation, and the client was eventually arrested.

Frank Stanley took the case to trial.

NOT GUILTY ON ALL OF THE SEX OFFENSES.

GUILTY OF REDUCED CHARGES on the other offenses. The client’s maximum sentencing exposure had been reduced from life in prison to four years.

Muskegon County Circuit Court

The client was alleged to be one of the largest cocaine dealers in the area. The police believed that he was responsible for at least two kilograms per week. The client was set up by the police and a reverse sting occurred. At the time of his arrest, the client had other charges–possession of marijuana and cocaine with the intent to deliver–pending.

Frank Stanley took the more recent case to trial.

NOT GUILTY.

Frank Stanley then negotiated a resolution to the pending charges, resulting in a plea to a misdemeanor charge and probation for the client.

Wayne County Circuit Court

Client was charged with using a computer and the Internet to arrange a sexual encounter with a minor, a felony punishable by either 15 years or life, Fourth-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct,(2 counts).

The client and the minor female were actually in a hotel room when the police arrived and confronted the client. A search of the hotel room turned up evidence indicating that client intended to have sexual relations with the female. The client admitted that he had sexual contact with the minor female prior to being confronted by the police.

Frank Stanley negotiated with the prosecutor in an effort to get the client the best deal possible.

RESOLVED with a 5 month jail sentence. Before Frank Stanley was involved with the negotiations, the client was facing a very lengthy prison sentence. Frank Stanley, over the objection of the prosecutor, persuaded the judge that a more lenient disposition was appropriate.

Kent County Circuit Court

Client was charged with felony possession of a Taser and felonious assault.

Frank Stanley negotiated a resolution of the charges. The client pled to a misdemeanor, paid a fine, and the case was over.

Kent County Circuit Court

Client was charged with felonious assault, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying of a concealed weapon.

Frank Stanley negotiated a resolution of the charges. Client was sentenced to a jail sentence and early release obtained. Client is free.

Kent County Circuit Court

Client was charged with a life offense (First-degree criminal sexual conduct) and with a 15 year felony (Second-degree criminal sexual conduct). Client allegedly assaulted his daughter.

Frank Stanley negotiated a resolution of the charges. The client received probation and is free.

Kent County Circuit Court

Client was a police officer charged with Internet possession of child pornography. The prosecutor was very hostile because of the client’s status as a police officer. Prosecution was being handled by the Attorney General’s office because the client was a police officer.

Frank Stanley negotiated a resolution. Client was sentenced to prison, but his sentence was far less than the prosecutor had originally demanded. His minimum sentence was 16 months and he will be eligible for parole later this year.

Wayne County Circuit Court

Client was charged with using the Internet to arrange a meeting with a minor girl, a 20 year felony.

Frank Stanley negotiated a resolution. Client was given jail time and probation. He is almost free.

Newaygo County Circuit Court

Client was charged with nine separate offenses, including operating a drug laboratory and firearms, operating a drug laboratory near a school (2 counts), operating a drug laboratory in the presence of a minor, possession of methamphetamine, felony firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, maintaining a drug house, and second habitual offender.

Frank Stanley negotiated a resolution. Client received jail time and is now free.

Ottawa County Circuit Court

The client was charged with first-degree home invasion, a 20 year felony. Because of his prior record, he was also charged as a fourth habitual offender, which increased the penalty to life.

In addition to the home invasion charge, there were also claims that the client tried to rape a woman who was nine months pregnant. Even if the life offense was dropped, the client’s mandatory minimum sentence scored at eight years.

Frank Stanley negotiated a resolution of the case. Instead of the eight year sentence, the client received a three year minimum sentence. Five years were saved.