Ann Arbor Criminal Defense Blog

Until the end of April, the 14A and 14B district courts are waiving all penalties and late fees for outstanding tickets for traffic civil infractions and parking violations dated on or before December 31, 2011. These courts encompass the cities of Pittsfield Township, Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, Saline, and Chelsea. The license clearance fee for suspended…

A new law targeting organized shoplifting rings goes into effect today. Organized retail crime is now a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years, a $5,000 fine, or both. Restitution will likely be ordered. Read the full Organized Retail Crime Act. A person is guilty of organized retail crime when that person…

Trespassing is entry onto another person’s land without permission. Michigan state law forbids trespassing and contains provisions for trespassing in specific situations. Townships and cities generally have ordinances prohibiting trespassing that are not listed here. In addition to fighting the trespass charge, there are several options to keep a trespass conviction off your permanent record,…

In the first court challenge to a city’s ability to enforce zoning laws concerning medical marijuana activity, the Washtenaw County Circuit Court held that the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act does not preempt city zoning ordinances. Previous challenges to city zoning laws regarding the MMMA, such as in Ter Beek v. City of Wyoming, were based…

There are many potential driving-related civil infractions in Michigan that drivers can receive. For many people, their only contact with the justice system will be a traffic-related citation. One of the most common infractions is a speeding ticket. Upon receiving a speeding ticket the driver has several options. The driver may simply admit responsibility and…

Due to automatic spending cuts to take effect on Friday, the federal agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement has released 2,228 of illegal immigrants held in detention centers throughout the country. Detainees were released from centers located in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, New Jersey, and New York. Officials claimed the high cost of detaining immigrants…

House Bill 4271, to be introduced into the Judiciary Committee, seeks to legitimize and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries. The bill follows the Michigan Supreme Court ruling in People v. McQueen, which essentially made the operation of a commercial dispensary impossible under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. The bill envisions legal dispensaries, which it refers to…

A Killebrew agreement is plea bargain in which the prosecutor promises the defendant will receive a particular sentence. Plea bargains area common part of criminal law. A plea bargain is where a person admits guilt in exchange for a benefit in return. Common plea bargains may involve a guilty plea in exchange for a dismissal…

In Chico-Polo v. Department of Corrections, Chico-Polo was convicted of delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance greater than 650 grams and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He filed for relief in trial court to compel the defendant, the Department of Corrections, to parole and release him to the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement…

For a police officer to make a warrantless search of a vehicle the officer must have “probable cause” that evidence of a crime will be found, as required by the Fourth Amendment. In Florida v. Harris the Court discussed when the source of the probable cause is a drug-sniffing dog, and affirmed the rule that…