Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
Original Case Details
On April 5th of this year, the rapper Eminem woke up to find a man standing behind him in his Clinton Township home. Investigators say that Eminem initially thought the person standing behind him was his nephew but was surprised to find out that it was a complete stranger. Eminem asked him why he was there, and the man, identified as Matthew David Hughes, said he was there to kill him. During the preliminary exam hearing, Clinton Township police officer Adam Hackstock testified that when he arrived at Eminem’s home in Clinton Township, he found Eminem’s security guard fighting with Hughes. Police were able to take Hughes into custody without much incident or struggle. Police testified that a brick was found inside the house next to a broken window where Hughes is said to have entered the home. Security footage is said to show that Hughes was on the premises of Eminem’s home for a while before he entered the house through the broken window. Hughes was unarmed when he was taken into custody and did not use or attempt to use any weapons during the alleged crime. Hughes was scheduled to take a competency evaluation but later turned it down. His defense attorney has stated on the record that he thinks there are mental health issues involved in the case.
Charges and Potential Penalties for Eminem’s Alleged Home Invader
Hughes faces charges of home invasion in the first degree, and felony malicious destruction of property, they are described below:
• Home invasion in the first degree: This is a felony charge that alleges an entering of a home with the intention to commit a felony or someone was inside the home at the time of the commission of the crime. A conviction for this charge carries a maximum possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.
• Malicious destruction of property between $1,000 and $20,000: This is a felony charge that alleges that you destroyed the property of another, and that property had a value of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000. A conviction for this charge carries a maximum possible sentence of up to 5 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Hughes has been in custody since being arrested on the date of the alleged offense.
What’s Next for this Case?
Hughes appeared before District Court Judge Jacob Michael Femminineo Jr. for a preliminary examination hearing on September 9, 2020. Officers testified about what they encountered when they arrived at Eminem’s home in a gated community in Clinton Township. Eminem was not in court to testify, but Judge Femminineo found that there was enough probable cause shown that a crime was committed and enough probable cause to show that Hughes was the one who committed the crime. Hughes was bound over on the two felony charges listed above and is scheduled for an arraignment on these charges on September 28, 2020 in Macomb County Circuit Court. Hughes will continue his case there and likely finish his case in the Circuit Court. Once he is arraigned, he will then be scheduled for a pre-trial conference where he will have the opportunity to seek a plea deal, set the case for trial, or raise evidentiary issues that can be brought before the judge in the form of criminal defense motions. Hughes continues to be held in custody on a $50,000 cash bond even though his attorney has asked the court for a bond reduction. Judge Femminineo stated that the victim’s fame had nothing to do with the bond amount. Hughes will continue to be held in custody unless he can post the current bond or have the bond reduced when he appears in Macomb County Circuit Court. The Macomb County Circuit Court judge that handles the case going forward will have the ability to set the bond as he or she sees fit. If a trial does happen in this case, then Eminem will most likely have to testify in person about what allegedly happened at his home, as remote testimony for a trial would be unlikely.
Any Further Questions?
If you or a loved one is being investigated or accused of a criminal home invasion, then it is important to speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. At Grabel & Associates, our attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience in successfully defending criminal cases all over the state of Michigan. We offer a FREE consultation to anyone with questions relating to a possible or existing criminal charge against them or a loved one. Feel free to contact us on our 24/7 defense line at 1-800-342-7896. You can also contact us online or come visit us at one of our three statewide locations. We can also come to you.