Assault charges are rarely a good thing, but, in Michigan, it is far preferable to face misdemeanor assault charges than see those same charges raised to a felony. Felony charges can change the entire course of your life if you suffer a conviction.Felons do not enjoy...
Grand Rapids Criminal Defense Law Blog
The potential problems with re-entering the workforce
As many retailers begin to hire temporary employers for the holiday season, some employers may still be ambivalent over hiring candidates with criminal records. Unfortunately, the perceived trouble that accompanies a criminal record still affects hiring decisions.An...
Supreme Court allows narrow definition to remain in hacking cases
The U.S. Supreme Court has turned away two cases involving the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which makes accessing computers without authorization into a federal crime. That leaves the existing 9th Circuit court rulings in place despite concerns that the...
Drivers should be aware on Halloween
With Halloween coming in a few weeks, much attention is being centered on all the children who will be taking to neighborhood streets in search of candy. The Party City commercials should give you a clue. It is an annual tradition here in Grand Rapids; so much so that...
Anthony Weiner sentenced to 21 months in teen sexting case
In one of the most disappointing and high-profile sexting scandals of the last five years, former congressman Anthony Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. The sentence stems from Weiner’s guilty plea to one count of transferring obscene material...
Your MI medical marijuana may not protect you from charges
Since voters passed the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act in 2008, thousands of people have gotten arrested and incarcerated for marijuana cultivation and distribution. Even those who believe they are protected by the Act could end up victims to a no-knock narcotics raid...
Could Apple’s FaceID raise Fifth Amendment concerns?
It is expected that people will marvel over the newest release from Apple. The iPhone X is arguably the most advanced smartphone the computer maker has ever produced, and will have major technological updates, such as faster processing, longer battery life and...
The Scourge of Inadequate Crime Labs
As technology and science continue to advance, it stands to reason that U.S. crime labs would produce increasingly sound results that help implicate or exonerate those accused of committing crimes.Unfortunately, that is not the case. Government-run crime labs across...
New rules proposed for IRS seizures
Nothing creates anger and frustration like having your property stolen. Whether you are robbed at gunpoint or thieves invaded your home, it is reasonable to believe that you would be fairly angry.But what if the “thieves” happened to be the federal...
Do police sometimes conduct illegal searches?
We hope our readers had a fund and entertaining Labor Day weekend. In our last post, we highlighted the possibility that law enforcement agencies may overstep their Fourth Amendment constraints by seeking information not necessarily covered in search warrants or...

